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TES: The largest network of teachers in the world
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Tech & media news 2018 - 2013
Technology, resources for teaching and learning, popular culture, film, TV, media and book news .......Collected by Lindy Hathaway, teacher librarian, Dickson College, ACT.
These entries also available via my blog: http://digitalk.edublogs.org
News for 2012 and previous years available here.All recent entries are here and not in this wiki (due to wiki formatting issues):
http://digitalk.edublogs.org
10 Feb 2015
Words of the Year
Here are some words that dominated popular culture In Australia, the US and UK during the last year. Interesting for English, sociology, psychology, popular culture….
Macquarie Dictionary’s 2014 Word of the Year
Announced 5 Feb. The winner: Mansplain (verb) - a man explaining something to a woman, in a way that is patronising because it assumes that a woman will be ignorant of the subject matter (Man + [ex]plain with "s" inserted to create a pronunciation link with explain). Runners-up: lifehacking, binge watching and bamboo ceiling.
People’s Choice: share plate - a serving in a restaurant designed as multiple small portions so that several diners can share the same dish.
Category winners:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-02-05/mansplain-macquarie-dictionary-2014-word-of-year/6073620
https://www.macquariedictionary.com.au/resources/view/word/of/the/year/
Complete list: https://www.macquariedictionary.com.au/media2/feature_documents/MacquarieWOTY_WordList_2014_2.pdf
http://theconversation.com/mansplaining-the-word-of-the-year-and-why-it-matters-37091
Australian National Dictionary Centre 2014 Word of the Year
Shirtfront – to challenge or confront a person. Other popular phrases: Team Australia; man-bun; Ned Kelly beard; coward punch.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-12-10/shirtfront-named-australias-word-of-the-year/5956328
http://ozwords.org/?p=6939
Global Language Monitor Top Word 2014
Analyses the English language globally - internet, social media, print, e-news. Emoji and other emoticons (pictographs) are becoming ingrained into the world’s vocabulary. The heart emoji was the most used character worldwide in 2014 and also won top “word” for 2014 – the first time a pictograph has won. There are currently 722 characters, with 250 more due this year (approved by Unicode Consortium, official keepers of internet code). Other top words: hashtag; vape; blood moon; nano; bae; bash tag; white privilege. Some top phrases: Hands up, don’t shoot; cosmic inflation; Big Data. Top names: ebola; Pope Francis; WW1; Medecins Sans Frontiers.
http://www.languagemonitor.com/category/words-of-the-year-woty/
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/11316095/Heart-emoji-the-most-used-character-online-in-2014.html
Oxford Dictionaries 2014 Word of the Year
Vape – to smoke an e-cigarettes via vaporised nicotine. Runners-up: normcore (unisex fashion with unpretentious clothing); contactless (card-hovering payments); slacktivism; bae (term of endearment for a romantic partner).
Chambers Dictionary: overshare; Collins Dictionary – photobomb.
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/nov/25/vape-this-years-selfie-2014-word-of-the-year
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/oct/23/overshare-word-of-the-year-2014-chambers-dictionary
Merriam-Webster (US) 2014 Word of the Year
The most lookups online: 1.culture 2. nostalgia 3. insidious 4. legacy 5. feminism 6. Je ne sais quoi 7. innovation 8. surreptitious 9. autonomy 10. morbidity
http://www.merriam-webster.com/top-ten-lists/2014-word-of-the-year/culture.html
American Dialect Society 2014 Word of the Year
#blacklivesmatter – protest over black men killed at the hands of police (actually a hashtag sentence).
http://time.com/3662593/2014-word-of-year-blacklivesmatter/
Words of the Year from around the globe
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/booknews/11287651/Shirtfront-to-vape-words-of-the-year-around-the-world.html
6 Feb 2015
Good novels for high school: Choices for English
Helen Sykes and Deb McPherson present regularly at conferences and are the authors of the popular book Choices for English: books, films and other texts that work (Cengage, 2009).An English teacher friend attended their presentation last November at the English Teachers Association of NSW Conference. Theyprovided an excellent list of books for high school English classes– including plays, narrative apps, Shakespeare, picture books, graphic novels, poetry, historical fiction, alternative futures, thriller and fantasy, cross-curricular perspectives and stories of WW1.
Friend’s recommendations:
Man made boy by Jon Skovron – inventive and original offbeat romance and coming-of-age story about Boy, the child of Frankenstein’s Monster and the Bride, who lives with his parents in a secret enclave in New York populated by other well-known monsters and freakswho perform for the public. Boy is also a hacker extraordinaire who lets loose his own monster. Exciting and humorous with many intertextual references. This book has great reviews – I want to read it!
We were liars by E. Lockhart – Yr 10+; unreliable teenage narrator; set in the wealthy US summer playground of Martha’s Vineyard. High interest for Yrs 9-10 with a clever plot and shock ending.
Shellshock by Justin Fleming - a play involving a turtle smuggled from Gallipoli that lives for 100 years. Good for Yrs 7-10.
Patient 12 by Kevin Summers - comatose WW1 patient; a powerful examination of war and its effects on people (only 36 p.)
Book by John Agard – the history of written communications in autobiographical form, told by a book. Good as a Biography/Autobiography text.
Recommended class sets
The First Voyage by Allan Baillie. Penguin, 2014.
Joyous and Moonbeam by Richard Yaxley. Omnibus Books, 2013.
Loyal Creatures by Morris Gleitzman. Viking, 2014.
The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman. Headline, 2014. (I really enjoyed this; great for Year 9+).
Razorhurst by Justine Larbalestier. Allen & Unwin, 2014.
Refuge by Jackie French. HarperCollins, 2013.
The Ship Kings series by Andrew McGahan. Allen & Unwin.
The Wall: A Modern Fable by William Sutcliffe. Bloomsbury Publishing, 2014.
We Were Liars by E. Lockhart. Allen & Unwin, 2014.
Wildlife by Fiona Wood. Pan Macmillan, 2013.
All the recommendations with detailed reviews:
Choices for English – Part 1:
http://helensykesreader.blogspot.com.au/2014/12/choices-for-english-etansw-conference.html
Choices for English – Part 2:
http://helensykesreader.blogspot.com.au/2014/12/choices-for-english-etansw-conference_9.html
NSW HSC Area of Study: Discovery – some related texts:
http://helensykesreader.blogspot.com.au/2014/12/nsw-hsc-area-of-study-discovery-some.html
2014
4 Dec 2014
Definitely the time of year for best of everything…..
Goodreads Choice Awards
Announced today – over 3 million votes by readers. 20 categories – fiction; non fiction; science fiction; fantasy; mystery and thriller; graphic novels; young adult fiction; YA fantasy; middle grade and children’s; picture books.
https://www.goodreads.com/choiceawards/best-books-2014
ABC TV First Tuesday Book Club
Links include: Jennifer Byrne presents – interviews with authors and others; The writer’s room – author interviews; videos of featured book reviews; What we’re reading + archives.
http://www.abc.net.au/tv/firsttuesday/
10 classic beach books ( ABC Book Club 2 Dec)
1. Thornbirds (!) 2. The girl with the dragon tattoo 3. Gone girl 4. My family and other animals 5. The secret history 6. The world according to Garp 7. The shipping news 8. The beach 9. The kite runner 10. Death on the Nile.
All 30 titles: http://www.abc.net.au/tv/firsttuesday/classicholidayreads/
Watch the entertaining episode - reviewers include Kitty Flanagan and Graeme Simsion (Rosie Project): http://www.abc.net.au/tv/firsttuesday/s4140456.htm
Most popular feature films released in 2014
Includes Hunger Games 3; Interstellar; Guardians of the galaxy; Horrible bosses 2; The maze runner; Fury; Predestination.
http://www.imdb.com/search/title?year=2014,2014&title_type=feature&sort=moviemeter,asc
The 50 best films of 2014
From Empire magazine. 1. Boyhood 2. Nightcrawler 3. The wolf of Wall Street 4. Inside Llewyn Davis 5. Guardians of the galaxy.
http://www.empireonline.com/features/50-best-films-2014/
Top 100 movies of 2014
Based on ranking of approval score. Includes: Boyhood; LEGO movie; X-Men; Grand Budapest Hotel; Snowpiercer; Captain America.
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/top/bestofrt/?year=2014
25 best films of 2014
Not all well-known films, but an excellent montage by David Ehrlich. Film list includes: Gone girl; Lucy; Grand Budapest Hotel; Godzilla.
http://www.avclub.com/article/watch-beautiful-montage-25-best-films-2014-212494
21 Nov 2014
Wikipedia - definitely an important part of the online world…..
Wikipedia - one of the most used sites on the web at #7
http://www.alexa.com/topsites
Wikipedia stats (Sept 2014)
33.5 million articles (4.7 million in English; Swedish is next largest 1.94 mill, followed by Dutch 1.79 mill then German 1.73 mill.)
287 languages
English articles equivalent to 2058 volumes of Britannica
8.7 million views per hour (English)
793 new articles per day in English – down from peaks of over 1500 in 2006/2007.
Active volunteer editors – declining. 3000 editors make 100 changes a month (English) – down from 4 700 in 2007.
http://stats.wikimedia.org/EN/Sitemap.htm
http://abs.sagepub.com/content/early/2012/12/26/0002764212469365.abstract
http://tools.wmflabs.org/wikitrends/english-most-visited-this-week.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Top_25_Report
Who edits Wikipedia?
Wikipedians write and edit pages. They do it because they like volunteering to share knowledge and believe that information should be freely available – it’s also fun. A study into editor gender bias revealed 84% of English Wikipedia editors are male (91% globally). 20% of editors are from the US; the top 10 editor countries are all either Nth America or Europe, except for India. Age distribution – 59% are 17-40 yrs; 28% are 40+.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Wikipedians
Harvard hires a Wikipedia editor to be its ‘Wikipedian in Residence’
In March, the Houghton Library at Harvard advertised a 12 week position for an experienced Wikipedia editor to write and improve articles for Wikipedia and to upload some of its own archives into Wikimedia, the parent organisation of Wikipedia. The Houghton Library focuses on rare and older books and it is hoped that there will be more use of their collections, whilst Wikipedia will get enhanced content. Wikimedia has been encouraging liaisons such as this for several years and many institutions have participated – eg. US National Archives, British Library, Smithsonian Archives. Harvard has also hosted ‘edit-a-thons’ for Wikipedia. During Science Week in August, Australia’s first “Wikibomb” sessions were held, where Wikipedia entries about leading female scientists were added.
http://www.theverge.com/2014/3/12/5501442/harvard-wikipedian-in-residence-library-job-posting
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-08-14/women-scientists-work-to-right-wrongs-with-wikibomb/5671332
Paid editors on Wikipedia
Would you trust it any more or less if you knew people were being paid to contribute content? Since August, Wikipedia allows paid contributors to make changes, as long as they disclose their affiliations. Critics dislike paid editors, as it conflicts with Wikipedia’s core editing policy of neutrality – but of course, PR people are already “wikiwashing” entries for companies, politicians and others.
http://theconversation.com/paid-editors-on-wikipedia-should-you-be-worried-30527
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/technology/jamiebartlett/100013979/wikiwashing-how-paid-professionals-are-using-wikipedia-as-a-pr-tool/
Bots as authors and editors on Wikipedia
Sverker Johansson in Sweden has contributed 2.7 million articles to Wikipedia – more than anyone else - but most of his entries have been created by a software program (bot). His program searches digital resources and packages the information into an article. Increasing amounts of new content on Wikipedia is now written by bots.
http://online.wsj.com/articles/for-this-author-10-000-wikipedia-articles-is-a-good-days-work-1405305001
Fear not - Wikipedia’s robots patrol 24/7 to kill vandalism: http://www.theverge.com/2014/2/18/5412636/this-machine-kills-trolls-how-wikipedia-robots-snuff-out-vandalism
Are Wikipedia’s days numbered?
New editors are hard to retain. Are there too many rules for them? Will Wikipedia adapt to Google Glass and translation services?The format is a bit dated now - should it be redesigned?
http://www.psmag.com/navigation/books-and-culture/killed-wikipedia-93777/
ALIA ACT Wikipedia and libraries information evening Mon 24 Nov in Canberra
What do Wikipedia and libraries have in common? How can libraries and Wikimedia Aust. work together?
https://www.alia.org.au/events/9405/alia-act-wikipedia-and-libraries-information-evening
7 Nov 2014
Some good films – excellent for sci-fi, physics, sociology, psychology, history and just for fun…
Interstellar
Currently screening. Directed by Christopher Nolan (Inception, Batman, The Prestige). Stars Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Michael Caine. A team of explorers and scientists leave a resource-depleted Earth and travel through a wormhole in search of a new habitable planet. Physicist Kip Thorne, an expert in Einstein’s general theory of relativity, was the scientific consultant and executive producer, ensuring that depictions of wormholes and relativity were as accurate as possible. Computer effects artists based the visual effects on Thorne’s equations and their work provided Thorne with new insight into black holes that will lead to 2 scientific papers (one in astrophysics; one in computer graphics). Music score by Hans Zimmer.
4 and a half stars from David and 3 from Margaret. David: “…a tremendously exciting space adventure …and also a rich and thoughtful meditation on time and space and gravity”.
"Brainy, barmy and beautiful to behold ... a mind-bending opera of space and time with a soul wrapped up in all the science” (James Dyer - Empire mag).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstellar_(film)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0816692/
https://interstellar.withgoogle.com/
The imitation game
Directed by Morten Tyldum. Stars Benedict Cumberbatch, Keira Knightley. Adapted from the novel Alan Turing: the enigma by Andrew Hodges. Based on the true story of English mathematician, logician and computer scientist Alan Turing and his brilliant team of code-breakers at Bletchley Park, who helped crack the German Enigma code during WW2. As well as being a espionage thriller, the film follows Turing’s life from school until his untimely death and how he was forced to hide his homosexuality. Opens 1 Jan 2015. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2084970/?ref_=tt_rec_tt
Viewers are impressed, especially with Cumberbatch – an Oscar-worthy film: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2084970/reviews?ref_=tt_urv
Turing is credited as being the inventor of the digital computer, his body of work helped form the basis for artificial intelligence and he made major contributions to cognitive science, artificial life and mathematics. Turing’s story is tragic – in 1952 he was arrested and tried for homosexuality, which was then a criminal offence, and lost his security clearance. He was sentenced to 12 months of hormone “therapy” to “treat” his homosexuality and died in 1954, probably by suicide. Prime Minister Gordon Brown officially apologised in 2009 and Queen Elizabeth issued a formal pardon in 2013. The government however, will not provide posthumous pardons for the other 49 000 men also sentenced under the law.
http://www.alanturing.net/
http://www.turing.org.uk/
http://www.theguardian.com/science/alan-turing
Particle fever
Directed by Mark Levinson, the documentary was shot over 7 years. It follows the inside story of 6 physicists at the Large Hadron Collider at CERN in Geneva, Switzerland and their discovery of the elusive Higgs boson - the last undetected particle predicted by the Big Bang Theory. Reviewers have praised the film for making theoretical arguments comprehensible and for making scientific experiments thrilling – and for making particle physicists seem human! Women physicists also feature strongly. Opens 27 Nov 2014.5 stars from the NY Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/05/movies/particle-fever-tells-of-search-for-the-higgs-boson.html
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/particle_fever/
The 100 best sci-fi movies
An excellent site - chosen by sci-fi experts, filmmakers, sci-fi writers, film critics and scientists. Includes a summary, best quote, big idea and trailer for each film, with comments from the experts and other contributors. Good site for a class discussion on the top 10 etc Here’s some from the top 10 – Blade runner, Brazil, Metropolis, 2001, The terminator, Alien, Star wars. Maybe you can guess #1? But Iron Man at #70?!
http://www.timeout.com/london/film/the-100-best-sci-fi-movies
Quick list: http://www.timeout.com/london/film/the-100-best-sci-fi-movies-full-list
Superhero comic book movies from now till 2019!
Superhero films with many crossover characters will fill cinemas over the next 5 years. Marvel/Disney has announced 9 movies and Warner/DC Comics has announced 10 interlinked superhero films. Get ready for Captain America 3, Ant-Man, Dr Strange, Thor 3, Black Panther, The Avengers 3, Batman vs Superman, Wonder Woman, The Flash..…Includes Inhumans - descendants of prehistoric genetic experiments who have lived apart from humans ever since using their own advanced technologies. Warner Bros also announced 3 Lego movies and 3 Harry Potter spinoffs – based on J.K. Rowling’s novella Fantastic beasts and where to find them. She is also writing the screenplays. Who will knock The Avengers and The Dark Knight from the top of the superhero box office charts?
http://www.theguardian.com/film/filmblog/2014/oct/30/superhero-comic-book-movies-cinemas
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/warner-bros-announces-10-dc-741008
31 Oct 2014
ebooks, printed books and libraries
Print books outsold ebooks in first half of 2014 in the US
Nielsen Books and Consumer survey – paperbacks 42% of sales; hardcovers 25%; ebooks 23%. Will paper books and ebooks coexist peacefully in the future? “A healthy, diverse marketplace with multiple format, price point, and channel choices for the consumer is generally a positive for readers, authors, and publishers overall” (Steinberger; Perseus Books). Stephen King: print books have a bright future – “books are going to be here for a long, long time”.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/06/ebooks-print-books-outsold_n_5940654.html
Yes we still love print!
The 2 second-hand bookfairs held by Lifeline in the ACT during 2014 were the most successful ever (and the biggest in Australia). It’s a great way for the community to recycle their books and support a great cause!
Nieuwe Bibliotheek (New Library) in Almere, Netherlands
Faced with declining visitors, traditional methods of library organisation were discarded in 2010 and a retail model was followed. Books are now grouped by area of interest with fiction and non fiction combined and many face-out displays. The library is a Seats2meet (S2M) location where people connect with each other in exchange for a free workspace. It also has a gaming facility, a reading garden and a large events program. And of course it has a café! It is now considered one of the most innovative libraries in the world and is the most successful cultural organisation in Almere – showing that “a physical public library has a right to exist in the future and will not disappear by increasing digitization and the internet” (Roy Paes).
http://www.shareable.net/blog/how-a-new-dutch-library-smashed-attendance-records
Ebook readers on the way out
ForresterResearch World eReader Adoption Forecast 2014-2019 predicts the death of the eReader as its functions are absorbed by other devices such as smartphones and tablets. Global sales peaked in 2011 but will decline steadily through 2019. Why carry another device? Ebook spending will continue to grow. Kindles have great battery life, but even Amazon will invest in newer devices like wearables, 3D printers and drones.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/technology/ereaders-wearables-endangered-species/story-e6frgakx-1226976266208?nk=26a8c2b5d63817978c49aef08dca9819
https://www.forrester.com/Forrester+Research+World+eReader+Adoption+Forecast+2014+To+2019+Global/fulltext/-/E-RES117476
Kindle Unlimited
Amazon has launched its Kindle Unlimited ebook & audiobook subscription service, following its US debut in July. It will have an emphasis on bestsellers with unlimited access to more than 650 000 ebooks and 2000 audiobooks for eight pounds per month. Authors will be paid each time someone reads more than 10% of one of their books (roughly $2 per unit). http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/sep/24/amazon-kindle-unlimited-ebooks-uk
“The fate of our literary culture is sealed” - Will Self
Deep, serious reading and writing is under threat from the digital revolution – it is clear, however, that digital media and the web will lead to new forms of learning, memory, understanding and even consciousness. The majority of the text currently read in the technologically advanced world is already digitised - the book is in “desperate, riffling retreat” and half of today’s revenue from British book sales goes to Amazon. We no longer have to rely on our memories to analyse or find new information – we have outsourced our mental operations to algorithms owned by money-making companies such as Google et al.
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/oct/03/fate-literary-culture-sealed-internet-will-self
23 October 2014
The Conversation launches US service
The acclaimed Australian news analysis website The Conversation launched its US service last week – following the UK launch last year. “The 3 newsrooms will work as one, sharing content and ideas from 14 000 academics. Australian academics and institutions will benefit from the increased global audience and opportunity for collaboration” – and readers will have increased access to quality information on current topics.
http://bit.ly/1wD90d0
https://theconversation.com/us
Technology improves higher learning – it doesn’t kill it
Gavin Moodie (RMIT) believes that MOOCs are unlikely to “disrupt” universities any more than print books did in early universities. Rather – “informal, open and online learning will be absorbed within exisiting universities to augment and improve their practices”. Interesting info about libraries and how they were changed by print…early libraries were closed to undergraduates – at Cambridge they were fined for entering them in the early 17th century! In the 18th century books were so numerous that a pedagogical role emerged for libraries, helping students navigate texts.
http://theconversation.com/technology-improves-higher-learning-it-doesnt-kill-it-29657
Mary Meeker’s Internet Trends Report 2014
The tech analyst’s influential report comes out annually mid year. She notes the biggest trend is towards mobile devices with sensors that enable users to share a huge range of information. This big data can in turn be used to solve problems and create new products, but privacy and other rights could be compromised.
http://www.smh.com.au/it-pro/business-it/mary-meekers-2014-internet-trends-report-is-a-must-read-20140529-zrrdf.html
http://torquemag.io/mobile-devices-are-the-big-story-in-mary-meekers-2014-internet-trends-report/
Interesting insights:
Summary of slides (54 slides): http://techcrunch.com/gallery/mary-meeker-internet-trends/
Full report (164 slides): http://www.kpcb.com/internet-trends
16 October 2014
Review of the Australian Curriculum and Future schools
An interesting week with the Review coming out….
Recommendation 18: "With the exception of literacy, numeracy and ICT that continue as they currently are dealt with in the Australian Curriculum, the remaining four general capabilities are no longer treated in a cross–curricular fashion. Critical and creative thinking, personal and social capability, ethical understanding and intercultural understanding should be embedded only in those subjects and areas of learning where relevant and where they can be dealt with in a comprehensive and detailed fashion".
Full review: https://www.education.gov.au/news/review-australian-curriculum-final-report-and-initial-australian-government-released.
Summary: http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/education-review-overhaul-of-bloated-national-curriculum-widely-supported-20141012-114zkz.html#ixzz3G4mWTcOT
“Axing” of the Australian Curriculum Digital Technologies Curriculum Foundation to Year 10
This week’s Review of the Australian Curriculum recommended that schools only introduce specific digital technology subjects from Year 9 onwards, or as an option for the states and territories. Many teachers thought the proposed curriculum was too difficult, especially in the early years - but members of Australia’s technology industry and other academics are dismayed by the decision, saying it will set Australia back internationally in the technology field and will affect the future economy. Jason Zagami from the Aust. Council for Computers in Education posted a response: http://acce.edu.au/acce-reply-review-australian-curriculum-press-release#attachments .
However, the Government will spend $12 million improving STEM (science, technology, engineering, maths) education in primary and secondary schools, including $3.5 million for computer coding education and $7.4 million for maths resources. A new Commonwealth Science Council will advise on science and technology issues, including Nobel Laureate Prof Brain Schmidt, Prof Ian Frazer and Catherine Livingstone.
http://www.itnews.com.au/News/396769,govt-promises-12-million-for-stem-in-schools.aspx
http://www.itwire.com/government-tech-news/govenrment-tech-policy/65707-proposed-‘axing’-of-digital-tech-curriculum-causes-outrage
http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/557429/warm-response-funding-coding-education/
Avoiding obsolescence: 13 standards for a near-future school
Food for thought and interesting ideas from Terry Heick, founder of TeachThought (which always has interesting articles).…
In 2024 traditional classrooms and pedagogy will have changed quite radically and current models will be obsolete. “Teaching, as we have designed it, curriculum, as we have packaged it, and education as we have promised it absolutely, positively cannot be successful on the shoulders of a single classroom teacher”. Or even 10. Heick suggests 13 standards for a near-future school. These include:
- every classroom should be “published” through appropriate social platforms
- student access to a network of peers, mentors and global “friends”
- artificial intelligence (AI) as a tool for students to create their own learning experience via their own “Siri”
- students should have endless choices
- self-directed learning, creativity, making, the humanities, emotion and citizenship transcend curriculum and catalyze learning
- all texts (literature, non fiction, social commentary, creative, informal etc) should be responsive – adjusting to a student’s literacy level & reading preferences
- search is dead; research is born – search engines will have been replaced by a hybrid of search, recommendation, crowd-sourcing and “resource prediction” (a personalized learning algorithm that predicts what resource or learning element will benefit the student)
http://www.teachthought.com/learning/avoiding-obsolescence-13-standards-near-future-school/More interesting suggestions from Heick….
Teaching Google natives to value information
10 strategies – not necessarily new ideas for TLs J
http://www.teachthought.com/technology/teaching-google-natives-to-value-information/
26 August 2014
Here are 3 useful & educational iPad apps for primary maths and language learning (all levels):
Mathstorm
$2.49 in the App Store; iOS 6 or later.
An entertaining and customisable collection of 5 games (monsoon, avalanche, meteor shower, sandstorm, blizzard) that each provide a different approach to developing maths skills. Teachers and students can choose to focus on particular skills eg. addition, subtraction, division, times tables etc. and they can also set time limit challenges. Games can be adjusted to suit players’ maths ability levels, catering for multiple abilities within a class. For example, the game can be set to only ask:
- 6 times tables
- Addition sums below 10
- Only division and multiplication
- Only division, multiplication and subtraction
- and many more combinations.
High scores are tracked, giving players a goal to beat. For ages 4 to 11.
https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/mathstorm/id897375887?ls=1&mt=8
Demo video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAnEndlRcRE
Aussie Kids Count Coins
$2.49 in the App Store; iOS 4 or later.
Money skills are practised and developed through 6 games, using animated characters. Activities include paying and giving change, counting change and multiplying, comparing amounts & shopping. Stars are awarded and used to decorate a night scene. For ages 4 to 10.
https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/aussie-kids-count-coins/id834143919?mt=8
Transformation Sentences
$2.49 in the App Store; requires iOS 7 or later.
This is a powerful app for teachers of sentence construction, sentence transformation and spelling - very useful for teachers of students who are learning to read – primary, high school, adult and ESL.
It was developed specifically for several teachers at Dickson College who wanted an app to support the Scaffolding Literacy program in the Secondary Introductory English Centre. Students here have just started learning English in Australia and will later move to ESL classes. The teachers wanted an app that wasn’t full of fancy bells and whistles but supported the teaching of literacy skills. The app has been used very successfully in class.
Demo video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slX6TwDG0gU
https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/transformation-sentences/id688779795?mt=8
Features include:
Sentences: Enter text, rearrange and drag individual words. Use for prediction games, cloze exercises etc
Spelling: Separate a word into letters or sounds.
Shuffle: Places all words in a sentence into random order. Students then reassemble the sentence.
Extra words: Add extra words and label parts of a sentence (eg. Who? What? Where?).
Save data: Save up to 10 sentences or spelling lists in folders. Send the folders to other iPads via Bluetooth or wi-fi (this enables the teacher to type a paragraph just once, which is then sent to the students’ iPads).
Draw: Use your finger as a pencil to write words directly on the screen.
Customise: Choose font, size and background.
(The apps were created by my son Bryan Hathaway, B. Software Engineering).
17 August 2014
As well as Book Week, it’s also National Science Week (16-24 Aug): http://www.scienceweek.net.au/
Here are some interesting links….
Women of science wikibomb
Great to see this event as part of National Science Week in Canberra. Participants researched and wrote Wikipedia articles about Australian women of science, engineering and maths. Awesome work – over 100 Wikipedia entries were created - now that really adds to the authenticity and reliability of Wikipedia!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Meetup/Canberra/2014-08-14-Wikibomb
Science 360
Breaking science videos and news from around the world, ready to embed in websites etc. Hosted by the USNational Science Foundation. Search for videos by topic or series.
http://science360.gov/files/
DNATube
Thousands of videos and lectures; explore by topics.
http://www.dnatube.com/
10 science YouTube channels you can’t miss
Includes Minute Physics; The Science Channel; SciShow; The Periodic Table of Videos, AsapSCIENCE and the excellent Vsauce.
http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/10-science-youtube-channels-you-cant-miss/
125 great science videos
Astronomy, physics, psychology, biology, ecology, technology….
http://www.openculture.com/science_videos
Stephen Hawking biopic: The theory of everything
Directed by James Marsh. Stars Eddie Redmayne (from Les Mis) as renowned physicist Hawking, author of A brief history of time. The film follows his life through university and his triumphs in the face of physical adversity. Opens in Australia early 2015. http://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/aug/07/stephen-hawking-biopic-first-trailer-the-theory-of-everything
Trailer: http://www.theguardian.com/film/video/2014/aug/07/theory-of-everything-stephen-hawking-movie-trailer-video
Hawking is a legend – look at all the places he has appeared in popular culture: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Hawking_in_popular_culture
International Science and Engineering Visualization Challenge
Science magazine and the US National Science Foundation select winners each year for illustration, posters & graphics, photography, games & apps and video. First place in games: Eyewire – one of the fastest growing citizen science projects ever created, where game players help to map neurons in a mouse’s retina. Also: EarthViewer app – scroll through billions of years of Earth’s geological periods. Meta!Blast: The Leaf game, for high school - players explore the microworlds of a leaf.
Slideshow of winners: http://www.sciencemag.org/site/multimedia/slideshows/343.6171.vis/index.xhtml
Eureka Prize for Science Photography
3 finalists and 7 highly commended entries; winner announced 10 Sept. Love the photo on a starry moonlit night of part of the Murchison Widefield Array radio telescope in W.A., which will be part of the largest telescope ever built (the Square Kilometre Array: SKA).
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-08-08/2014-eureka-prizes-science-photos/5657940
Sleek Geeks Eureka Science Schools Prize 2014
Short science videos – primary and secondary finalists; winners announced 10 Sept. View other years’ finalists also. Lots of interesting science – eg. I want to make tea – a musical parody, sung to Queen’s I want to break free :) http://www.abc.net.au/science/video/2014/tea.html
2014 finalists: http://www.abc.net.au/science/sleekgeeks/eureka/
Free iBooks textbook: Life on Earth by Edward O. Wilson
Biology for secondary schools; 41 interactive chapters with video and animations, written by the Harvard naturalist and Pulitzer Prize winner, collaborating with the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute. Accompanied by an iTunes U course.
http://www.wehi.edu.au/site/latest_news/global_launch_of_innovative_ibooks_textbook_e.o._wilsons_life_on_earth
Professor Manning Clark and donor-conceived granddaughter
Fascinating story of Dr Lauren Burns and her quest to find out about her biological father (Aust. Story Aug 10 & 18). Good resource for discussion of medical ethics and legal issues.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-08-18/sperm-donor-conceived-woman-related-to-professor-manning-clark/5679580
Watch: http://www.abc.net.au/austory/specials/searchingforcelevenpartone/default.htm
http://www.abc.net.au/austory/
Walter and Eliza Hall Institute
The oldest medical research institute in Australia – 100 years old in 2015.
http://www.wehi.edu.au/
WEHI.TV: Video clips of discoveries and research: http://www.wehi.edu.au/education/wehitv/
Virus one billion times: Projected animations of viruses magnified one billion times - in the State Library of Victoria’s reading room earlier this year: http://www.wehi.edu.au/virus_one_billion_times/
Science is awesome!
16 August 2014
Happy Book Week! (16-22 August)
Here are some interesting sites celebrating books and reading(college/high school focus):
The Children’s Book of the Year Awards
http://cbca.org.au/awards.htm
Australian Independent Bookseller – good books and bestsellers in Australia.
http://www.indies.com.au/
Top 100 books – all good reads.
http://www.angusrobertson.com.au/top-100
LibraryReads – the top 10 adult books published each month as voted by library staff in the US.
http://libraryreads.org/
The greatest books – generated from over 50 other “best of” lists; favourite books of each decade; links to many other book lists and award sites.
http://thegreatestbooks.org/
100 best first lines from novels
http://americanbookreview.org/100bestlines.asp
Favourite opening lines from books
http://www.stylist.co.uk/life/the-best-100-opening-lines-from-books
Famous book quotes
http://www.pinterest.com/jerichobooks/famous-book-quotes/
50 literary quotes to start your day
http://shortlist.com/entertainment/books/50-literary-quotes-to-start-your-day-with
Popular science books
https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/science
100 all-time greatest popular science books
http://oedb.org/ilibrarian/100-all-time-greatest-popular-science-books/
FableCroft – tune into Tehani Wessely’s publishing website for some great speculative fiction and the Cranky Ladies of History upcoming book.
Genrefluent – helping readers find the books they will love.
http://www.genrefluent.com/
Aurealis Awards – Australian awards for sc-fi, fantasy & horror fiction.
http://www.aurealisawards.com/finalists_winners.htm
Australian Women Writers – supporting and promoting books by Australian women
http://australianwomenwriters.com/
1 August 2014
Aussie Teens Online Report
ACMA (Aust. Communications and Media Authority) recently released a research snapshot: Aussie teens online (14-17 year olds).
Good infographic: http:www.acma.gov.au/theACMA/aussie-teens-online
Report summary: http:www.acma.gov.au/theACMA/engage-blogs/engage-blogs/Research-snapshots/Aussie-teens-online
• 69% of their mobile phones are smartphones.
• Mobile phones are increasingly used for online activities.
• 23% go online with a tablet; 74% with a laptop/computer; 56% with a smartphone.
• Wireless hotspots are increasingly used for internet access.
• 72% go online more than once a day.
• The top 5 internet domains visited (Dec 2013): Google (including Search, Chrome, Mail, Maps, Earth etc); Facebook; YouTube; Mi9 (including Skype, Xbox, ninemsn etc); Microsoft.
• 90% went online for entertainment activities - the most time spent online was at YouTube, then Facebook & Skype.
• Teenagers are not the dominant group in social media forums (other age groups outrank them) – they account for 7% of Australians who use social networking.
• Teens in Aust. and the US are moving away from Facebook (70% in 2012 to 58% 2013).
• Teens access a range of online forums – Wikipedia, WikiHow, Tumblr, Blogger, ninemsn Entertainment videos.
Not many surprises really….and 6 in 10 are going online for research and information! The internet is a natural and essential part of their (and our) lives….more support for BYOD.
Internet ethics?
You may have read about Facebook’s unethical experiment, where it secretly manipulated 700 000 users’ emotions via the Facebook news feed, in order to study “emotional contagion through social networks”. The researchers wanted to see if reading fewer positive posts made people less likely to post positive content (and the same for negative messages). They found that social networks can indeed propagate positive and negative feelings. And apparently we agreed to this “research” via the Data Use Policy when we signed up. A good article for discussion for psychology, sociology and legal studies classes.
http:www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/science/2014/06/facebook_unethical_experiment_it_made_news_feeds_happier_or_sadder_to_manipulate.html
28 July 2014
Films for action
Some excellent documentaries and films for senior students of global studies, sociology, geography, sustainability, human rights…..
http://www.filmsforaction.org/
“Discover, watch and share over 3000 of the best social change videos online - a community powered learning library and alternative news center for people who want to change the world”. Includes documentaries, videos, short films, presentations, trailers and articles.
Search for films via subjects and countries eg. corporations, big ideas, human rights, social issues, climate change; war and peace, culture, consumerism; globalization; cities; animal rights; vision; technology and design.
Includes films such as Inside job; War made easy; Consuming kids; Capitalism: a love story; WikiRebels; Flow: for love of water; The internet must go; Chasing ice; Plastic planet; The superior human?; Schooling the world: The cove; Exit through the gift shop.
View titles via the visual Wall of Films: http://www.filmsforaction.org/walloffilms/
View the Top 100 Documentaries: http://www.filmsforaction.org/top-100-documentaries/
Also includes featured articles: http://www.filmsforaction.org/news/
21 July 2014
NMC Horizon Report 2014 K-12 Edition
This annual report, released in June, examines emerging technologies for their potential impact on and use in teaching, learning and creative inquiry in K-12 education.
Key trends:
Rethinking the roles of teachers
Shift to Deep Learning approaches
Increasing focus on open content
Increasing use of hybrid learning designs
Rapid acceleration of intuitive technology
Rethinking how schools work
Significant challenges:
Creating authentic learning opportunities
Integrating personalized learning
Complex thinking and communication
Increased privacy concerns
Competition from new models of education
Keeping formal education relevant
Important developments in technology for K-12 education:
BYOD (Bring Your Own Device)
Cloud computing
Games and gamification
Learning analytics
The Internet of Things
Wearable technology
Summary: http:cdn.nmc.org/media/2014-horizon-k12-preview.pdf
Full report: http:www.nmc.org/publications/2014-horizon-report-k12
Summary video (3 min.): https:www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FlxIcZqWEc
6 June 2014
In 2014, the Pew Research Center’s Internet Project, together with Elon University, are releasing 8 reports to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the creation of the World Wide Web by Sir Tim Berners-Lee.
14 May: The Internet of Things will thrive by 2025
Many experts believe the growth of the Internet of Things and embedded and wearable devices will have widespread and beneficial effects by 2025. Networking of everything and everyone continues through the proliferation of smart sensors, cameras, software, databases, massive data centres, tagging and analytical mapping of physical and social realms. People receive information from portable, wearable & implantable technologies.
There will be sensors that provide patients’ vital signs; devices giving feedback on our fitness; smart cities with GPS readouts for traffic and pollution; sensored roads & infrastructure that provide alerts when repairs are needed; smartphone apps for adjusting household heating etc; readings from forests, oceans, soil, resources. Voice and touch commands will increase. However, there will also be privacy concerns with higher levels of profiling and targeting, as well as equity issues. Disruption of business models will occur - notably in finance, entertainment, publishing and education. But maintaining all this? “We will live in a world where many things won’t work and nobody will know how to fix them.” (gulp) - Howard Rheingold.
http://www.pewinternet.org/2014/05/14/internet-of-things/
11 March: Digital life in 2025
Experts predict the Internet will become ‘like electricity’ — less visible, yet more deeply embedded in people’s lives for good and ill.
Good things:
Effortless information sharing; more global relationships and less ignorance; Internet of Things; augmented reality; political awareness facilitated with more uprisings (Arab Spring); increased awareness of massive disparities in health care, clear water, education, food, and human rights. The internet may even become “the internets”, with separate channels and layers of privacy.
An internet-enabled revolution in education will spread more opportunities, with less money spent on real estate and teachers – “the biggest impact on the world will be universal access to all human knowledge” (Hal Varian, Google). He states that cheap mobile devices and tools such as the Khan Academy will have a huge impact on literacy & numeracy. Access to the internet will be a human right and with global perspectives, there will be breakthroughs in many issues such as poverty, inequality and the environment (Tiffany Shlain).
Bad things:
Equity issues; loss of privacy; commonplace cyber-terrorism; mob mentality; governments will try to assert political and social control; people will lose their grounding in the realities of life and work; too many superficial interactions (not face-to-face). Privacy may end up being only for the privileged. The increasing proportion of non face-to-face online human interactions will lead to less respect and integrity in our relations (Bob Briscoe).
http://www.pewinternet.org/2014/03/11/digital-life-in-2025/
http://www.pewinternet.org/2014/03/11/15-theses-about-the-digital-future/
27 Feb: The web at 25 in the US
The overall verdict: The internet has been a plus for society and an especially good thing for individual users.
Personally - 90% say it has been good; 6% bad; 3% both. For society – 76% good; 15% bad; 8% both.
The internet would be harder to give up then mobile phones, TV, email, landlines and social media. Most internet users thought online communication had strengthened their relationships and that the environment was kind.
http://www.pewinternet.org/2014/02/27/the-web-at-25-in-the-u-s/
Upcoming reports – net access & copyright; killer apps in the gigabit age; cyber attacks; security and privacy; artificial intelligence and robotics; corporations most likely to succeed:
http://www.elon.edu/e-web/imagining/surveys/2014_survey/default.xhtml
Imagining the Internet
Insights into the internet’s future and past:
http://www.elon.edu/e-web/imagining/#
27 May 2014
Reconciliation Week
National Reconciliation Week is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures and achievements and to contribute to building a reconciled Australia. It is held between two significant milestones in Australia’s history, May 27 (1967 Referendum) and June 3 (Mabo Day).Reconciliation involves building positive, respectful relationships between the broader Australian community and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples for the benefit of all Australians. http://www.reconciliation.org.au/
Information and key dates in Reconciliation:
http://www.reconciliation.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Lets-talk...Reconciliation.pdf
Latest news:
- Noel Pearson’s argument in favour of constitutional change, recognition of indigenous peoples and the removal of racial discrimination from the Constitution.
- Maiden speech of Senator Nova Peris – first Aboriginal woman in the Australian Parliament.
- Reconciliation messages – including Australian of the Year Adam Goodes, Meshel Laurie, Troy Cassar-Daley & Fred Chaney.
http://www.reconciliation.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/RA-News-29_web.pdfResources and fact sheets: http://www.reconciliation.org.au/category/resource/
Video – Reconciliation is for all of us (2:5 min.): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYu2Q09zoXM&feature=youtu.be
Sing Loud! song competition
Learn and perform one of the 3 reconciliation songs in the playlist below – or perform your own original reconciliation song. Upload your performance to the Sing!Loud website. $1000 prize each for the best original song and best cover song – judged by Delta Goodrem and Gurrumul. Competition closes 8 June.
Details and videos of songs already submitted: http://www.reconciliation.org.au/nrw/category/sing-loud/
Delta, Gurrumul & the Sydney Symphony Orchestra perform Bayini on The Voice 2013….beautiful: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oi6zbPjtO6I
Recognise (part of Reconciliation Australia)
The people’s movement to recognise Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander peoples in our Constitution - “We want to see fairness and respect at the heart of our Constitution, and to remove discrimination from it. Our goal is a more united nation. This is a chance for Australia to acknowledge the first chapter of our national story, and to forge our future together - after so many chapters apart.”
http://www.recognise.org.au/
School Learning Guide (Years 10-12) – Recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the Constitution: http://www.recognise.org.au/uploads/custom/08ae158740e5ed91d082.pdf
Share our pride (part of Reconciliation Aust.)
Information about the First Australians; Culture; Shared history; Beyond the myths; Respectful relationships; Famous indigenous Australians; Books; Films.
http://shareourpride.org.au/
NAIDOC Week 6 – 13 July: Serving country - centenary and beyond
The theme honours all ATSI men and women who have fought in defence of country – from the warriors in the Frontier Wars to those who have served in Australia’s military engagements around the world.
http://www.naidoc.org.au/
23 May 2014
MOOCs
With the dreaded increases to university fees put forward in the budget, maybe now is the time to enrol in a free MOOC…
Massive Open Online Courses: 10 million enrolments globally
ANU, UNSW, Monash, Melbourne University, RMIT & University of Queensland all offer MOOCs, as well as many overseas universities.
University of Melbourne (via Coursera)
13 May: In just over 12 months, over 500,000 students from across the globe have enrolled in 11 MOOCs - “an exhilarating experience” (VC Glyn Davis). Upcoming MOOCs include: Assessment and teaching of 21st century skills (30 June); French Revolution (7 July): https://www.coursera.org/unimelb
http://blog.le.unimelb.edu.au/2014/05/university-of-melbourne-moocs-reach-500000-enrolments/
Australian National University (via edX)
Engaging India: the world’s first Hindi-English MOOC
This 10 week course started 29 April with over 10 000 enrolments. Presented by Dr McComas Taylor and other experts - a rich overview of contemporary India. Videos and readings will be available in Hindi and English.
http://asiapacificweek.anu.edu.au/news-events/all-stories/anu-deliver-world%E2%80%99s-first-hindi-english-mooc
Upcoming MOOC: Exoplanets - presented by Prof. Brian Schmidt, 2011 Nobel prize winner (24 June; 10 wks). Prof. Schmidt also presented Greatest unsolved mysteries of the universe (started 25 March).
https://www.edx.org/school/anux
ANU is the first Australian university to join edX, which was set up in 2012 by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard University as a non-profit organisation (unlike other providers such as Coursera and FutureLearn). The platform and source code for edX courses are freely available. Google was developing its own education platform called Course Builder, but has now decided to use the edX platform.In February 2014, Mark Zuckerberg announced that Facebook would use edX for SocialEDU, the online educational system it is providing for Rwanda. Nokia will provide affordable smartphones, Airtel will provide free data to students (1 year); the government will provide free wifi to unis.
http://www.afr.com/p/national/education/anu_bilingual_mooc_hit_in_india_jNqzxkEBSn33Jw9G9Z2RII
http://motherboard.vice.com/read/facebook-is-bringing-moocs-and-facebook-to-rwanda?trk_source=features3
Benefits of MOOCs
Anant Agarwal, edX CEO, talks about the transformative power of MOOCs and how they are set to democratise education (2 min. video): http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/news-events/video/power-moocs#.U12l3rS-Wzo
Completion rates of MOOCs?
Could be as low as 4 or 5%....but you could learn a lot even if you don’t formally complete!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/21/completion-rates-moocs-harvard-mit_n_4638911.html
MOOC List - MOOC aggregator: http://www.mooc-list.com/
MOOCs Directory: http://www.moocs.co/
50 top sources of free eLearning courses:
http://www.teachthought.com/learning/50-top-sources-of-free-elearning-courses/
Coursera – largest provider; 80 top unis (Stanford, Yale, Columbia): https://www.coursera.org/
edX - Harvard, MIT, Berkley, ANU, Uni of Qld etc: https://www.edx.org/
FutureLearn – UK unis, Monash Uni, British Museum, British Library: https://www.futurelearn.com/
Udacity – IT and computer science (some have a charge): https://www.udacity.com/courses#!/all
MOOEC (Massive Open Online English Course) – Aust. site, supported by Qld Govt; teaches English language at all levels: http://www.mooec.com/about
16 May 2014
The inaugural YouTube FanFest is on in Sydney on 31 May. It includes comedic bloggers Jenna Marbles and Ryan Higa, beauty experts Bethany Mota and Chloe Morello and science sensations Vsauce and Veritasium (see below).
http://www.youtube.com/user/Ytfanfest
Vsauce: our world is amazing
Vsauce comprises a number of YouTube channels created by Michael Stevens. The channels produce videos about scientific topics, technology, culture, gaming and topics of general interest. The main Vsauce channel is hosted by Michael Stevens and presents philosophical and scientific questions about humans and the universe.
Topics include: Is anything real? Will we ever run out of new music ? What if everyone jumped at once? How big can a human get? Should you eat yourself? What colour is a mirror? Why do we clap? What is the greatest honour? Where do deleted files go? How many photos have been taken? We are all related. And even - A defence of Comic Sans
Stevens has stated he researches academic papers and Wikipedia to find information for his videos. Vsauce won a 2014 Webby People's Voice Award for Best News and Information. Stevens loves playlists - he even states that “curation is the future”!
Vsauce: https://www.youtube.com/user/Vsauce
All the Vsauce videos: https://www.youtube.com/user/Vsauce/videos
Vsauce2: people are amazing
Unusual knowledge and technology, inventions, BiDiPi (Build it, Draw it, Play it – maker culture) creations, riddles….
https://www.youtube.com/user/Vsauce2
Vsauce3: fictional worlds are amazing
Includes video games, interesting websites, new apps…
https://www.youtube.com/user/Vsauce3
Wesauce: the best videos from the Vsauce community
https://www.youtube.com/user/WeSauce
Veritasium
http://www.youtube.com/user/1veritasium
Educational YouTube science channel created by Derek Muller in 2011. Videos include science experiments & cool demos, dramatisations, interviews with experts, songs and discussions with people to uncover misconceptions about science. Try these:
Will this go faster than light?: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPsG8td7C5k
Can silence actually drive you crazy? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXVGIb3bzHI
World’s roundest object: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMByI4s-D-Y
All the videos: http://www.youtube.com/user/1veritasium/videos
7 May 2014
Look up (and put your gadgets down)
Over 19 million views on YouTube since 25 April….writer and director Gary Turk produced his 5 minute “spoken word film for an online generation”, highlighting the social isolation resulting from constant online connectivity. Turk says “Look Up is a lesson taught to us through a love story, in a world where we continue to find ways to make it easier for us to connect with one another, but always results in us spending more time alone”.
Yes…ironic that a film about putting down your gadgets goes viral….and it might be a bit sentimental but it’s sweet. Think about what you’re missing out on….look up.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7dLU6fk9QY
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/look-up-video-lifechanging-film-about-quitting-social-media-ironically-goes-viral-with-tweets-from-andy-murray-and-jordin-sparks-9323510.html
Are you addicted to your smartphone?
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/reading-between-the-headlines/201307/smartphone-addiction
2 May 2014
Some good resources for media, art, photography, graphic design, popular culture, business studies, social sciences….
The 18th Annual Webby Awards
The Oscars of the online world have now been announced – chosen by the International Academy of Digital Arts & Sciences. Categories include web, online film & video, interactive advertising & media, mobile & apps and social. A Lifetime Achievement Award was given to Lawrence Lessig, co-founder of Creative Commons and staunch advocate of the open, collaborative web.
http://www.webbyawards.com/
All the winners & nominees: http://webbyawards.com/winners/2014
Winners include:
Education: Coursera
Health: WebMD
Science: Nautilus
Cultural institutions: The Second World War in 100 objects
Social media: Vine (create and share beautiful looping videos)
Social media campaign: The Melbourne remote control tourist (yay Australia!)
Public service and activism: The internet must go (John Wooley)
Experimental and innovation: D-Day: as it happens
Activism: change.org
Art: Artsy
Travel: Airbnb
Best online commercial: The epic split (Jean-Claude van Damme and the Volvo trucks)
Best use of video: The Serengeti lion (National Geographic)
Best photography and graphics: GoPro
Best use of photography: Graffiti General
Best use of animation: The art of noise
Best user experience: Medium (everyone’s stories and ideas)
Reality: Google+ same sex marriage
Wow….gazillions of resources on the interwebs….and we’ve had access for maybe 18 or so years in schools. Remember the days before the web…where to next?
11 April 2014
RiAus
RiAus is Australia’s national science hub, promoting public awareness and understanding of science. Their email newsletter always has interesting user-friendly updates in the world of science: http://riaus.org.au/
“In 2011 the human population surpassed 7 billion people, but how does that compare to other animal species?
The combined population of our home planet is almost impossible to quantify. While the human population is in the billions, bacterial species measure in the quadrillion quadrillions!”
3 minute video: http://riaus.org.au/podcast/a-week-in-science-11-april-2014/?utm_source=newsletter20140411&utm_medium=newsletter20140411&utm_campaign=newsletter20140411
Global Populations
RiAus have included some useful links:
Current World Population – Statistics from Worldometer
Population Fact Sheets – Fact sheets by United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs
How many people have ever lived on Earth – Article from the Population Reference Bureau
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species – Lists from International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources
Endangered Species Population Number – http://www.allaboutwildlife.com/endangered-species/endangered-species-population-numbers/3596
Farm Animal Populations Continue to Grow – Article from World Watch Institute
The science of Doctor Who
RiAUS are also presenting thisfun &interactive stage show (BYOD) around Australia from April to June 2014. Investigate time travel and teleportation, discover how the Tardis can be bigger on the inside and find out if regeneration is really possible.
http://riaus.org.au/doctorwho/?utm_source=newsletter20140411&utm_medium=newsletter20140411&utm_campaign=newsletter20140411
The universes of Doctor Who: http://riaus.org.au/articles/universes-doctor/
7 April 2014
Indie Book Awards
Interesting to see the winners announced on 26 March, chosen by the independent booksellers of Australia (200 shops nationally).
The narrow road to the deep north by Richard Flanagan was voted as the booksellers’ favourite Australian book from last year and the winner of The Indie Book of the Year Award 2014.
Category winners:
FICTION AWARD:
The narrow road to the deep north by Richard Flanagan (Random House Australia)
NON-FICTION AWARD: Girt by David Hunt (Black Inc)
DEBUT FICTION AWARD: Burial rites by Hannah Kent (Pan Macmillan Australia)
CHILDREN’S AWARD: Kissed by the moon by Alison Lester (Penguin Australia)
http://www.indies.com.au/IndieAward.aspx
Current Indie Top 10 bestsellers include Burial rites, The fault in our stars, The blazing world, I quit sugar for life (!), The Rosie project, Beams falling…. http://www.indies.com.au/Default.aspx
Interesting/cute article in the Sunday paper last week (does anyone buy them anymore?) – iPad dad who won’t let his (2 and a half year old) son read books…and the mum who smuggles them in:
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/the-ipad-dad-who-wont-let-son-read-books/story-fni0cx4q-1226868554082
The article included a comment by Sophie Higgins from Dymocks, who said the market for children’s books has felt no impact from tablets like the iPad. “Sales of children’s books last Christmas were up 11.4% in value, that’s huge growth, and that growth was consistent all year.” Other interesting info in the article: 376 public libraries in NSW; 3.2 million members and 35 million visits in 2012. Yay for libraries!
27 March 2014
Virtual reality and Oculus Rift
Interesting developments in virtual reality…..
Facebook acquires virtual reality company Oculus VR for $2 billion
The Oculus Rift virtual reality (VR) goggles were developed during a Kickstarter campaign, one of the most successful ever. When you wear the headset goggles, you are immersed in a virtual world (eg. a computer game running on your computer) – and you interact with that world as if you were actually there. Currently, developer kits for the Oculus Rift are available and now Facebook has bought the company. Zuckerberg says he wants to “make the Oculus a platform for many other experiences” – including classroom use, medical consultations and sport. The Oculus team believe that virtual reality has the “potential to transform the way we learn, share, play and communicate”. Some say Facebook is betting on virtual reality replacing smartphones & other mobile devices. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/25/facebook-oculus_n_5030801.html
Here at Dickson College in the ACT, Maker culture is thriving. Our innovative IT & Engineering teacher Andrew Moss is using the Oculus Rift developers’ kit with students in years 11 & 12. They are adding webcams so that the Oculus can film where they look and then turn this into virtual reality. The Oculus might also be used with the UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) program. The students demonstrated the Oculus and the 3D printer as part of our United Nations International Day of Happiness celebrations on 20 March. I had a turn with the Oculus goggles and they were awesome!! You really felt immersed in a virtual world – in this case, a rollercoaster ride. Could be quite addictive!
Video using Oculus Rift in Skyrim game (impressive!): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7n5kRRHDpw
Other videos (including satire): http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=oculus+rift&sm=3
Will Facebook just turn the Oculus headset into another device for mining personal information and selling advertising? Many supporters of Oculus Rift are less than impressed at the Facebook acquisition. Minecraft creator Markus Persson has decided against using Oculus in the game, because Facebook creeps him out. Check out the GIF haha: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/26/oculus-rift-facebook_n_5034699.html
Facebook begins its quest to replace reality: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/25/facebook-oculus-vr_n_5031089.html Exciting times!
20 March 2014
Australian Curriculum: technologies; and computer coding
Some interesting news and views….
Australian Curriculum: Technologies
Available for use; awaiting final endorsement. Two distinct subjects – 1. Design and Technologies 2. Digital Technologies.
All students will study both from Foundation to Year 8. In Year 9 and 10, access will be determined by school authorities.
Design and Technologies – students use design thinking and technologies to generate and produce designed solutions for authentic needs and opportunities. http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/technologies/design-and-technologies/Curriculum/F-10 Digital Technologies – students use computational thinking and information systems to define, design and implement digital solutions. http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/technologies/digital-technologies/Curriculum/F-10
Australian Curriculum: General Capabilities: ICT Capability
“In the Australian Curriculum, students develop ICT capability as they learn to use ICT effectively and appropriately to access, create and communicate information and ideas, solve problems and work collaboratively in all learning areas at school, and in their lives beyond school. The capability involves students in learning to make the most of the digital technologies available to them, adapting to new ways of doing things as technologies evolve and limiting the risks to themselves and others in a digital environment.” http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/GeneralCapabilities/Pdf/ICT
Do we really need a Digital Technologies syllabus?
Here’s an interesting article by Deborah Trevallion (lecturer, School of Education, Uni of Newcastle). If ICT capability is integrated into every subject, why do we need a Digital Technologies syllabus? Who is going to teach it? Will we need to find specialist computing teachers? The Australian syllabus is already overcrowded – perhaps the Digital Technologies syllabus should just be a strand of the Design and Technologies syllabus.
http://theconversation.com/connecting-to-australias-first-digital-technology-curriculum-23507
Teaching the new Digital Technologies syllabus
Indeed, feedback was given during the Draft stage, commenting on the level of difficulty and advanced nature of the Digital Technologies curriculum, especially for years F-6. Will teachers have the expertise to deliver the curriculum? Interesting to see the Computer Science Education Research Group at the University of Adelaide (supported by Google) offering a free course for F-6 teachers (starting 24 March) in digital technology and computational thinking and how to implement the curriculum (thanks Stephen Loosley for your update). More courses like this will need to be offered so that teachers can become familiar with this new learning area – many teachers will have had little experience with concepts such as algorithms, programming and information systems. Interesting though! https://csdigitaltech.appspot.com/preview
Implementing the Digital Technologies syllabus will be an exciting time – maybe it’s an area in which teacher librarians can develop expertise? Computer science and coding are becoming more prominent worldwide….
Code.org and the Hour of Code
Code.org launched in January 2013 – a non-profit organisation that promotes computer coding & computer science, especially in schools. Supporters include Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates and President Obama. During 9 – 15 Dec 2013 they launched the Hour of Code Challenge – 20 million people in 168 countries participated and 600 million lines of code were written. http://www.youtube.com/user/CodeOrg
http://www.centerdigitaled.com/news/Hour-of-Code-Takes-off-in-Schools.html
Teacher coding & user friendly professional resources (useful for Aust. Curriculum) – looks like fun!:
http://code.org/learn
http://code.org/educate
Chicago public schools are establishing computer science as a core subject in high schools, in partnership with Code.org,. who will provide free curriculum and PD for teachers. Sounds good!
http://www.centerdigitaled.com/news/Chicago-Public-Schools-to-Establish-Computer-Science-as-Core-Subject-.html?utm_source=related&utm_medium=direct&utm_campaign=Chicago-Public-Schools-to-Establish-Computer-Science-as-Core-Subject
The National Curriculum for primary schools in England will adopt lessons in basic programming from Sept 2014, from kindergarten on. This is already happening in Estonia. The Hour of Code will also run in the UK in March this year.
Short video: http://www.bbc.com/news/education-25648769
http://www.computingatschool.org.uk/
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/10468460/Coding-for-kids-schoolchildren-learn-computer-programming.html
National Curriculum in England: computing programmes of study:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-curriculum-in-england-computing-programmes-of-study
Lots of exciting developments!
7 March 2014
Some interesting info for geography, science, global studies, sociology..…
State of the climate 2014 Report
Released 4 March, it is the third report produced by CSIRO & Aust. Bureau of Meteorology – a summary of observations of Australia’s climate and analysis of the factors that influence it. Chapters include: Heavy rainfall & tropical cyclones; Oceans; Future climate scenarios.
Fast facts: Aust’s climate has warmed by 0.9 degrees since 1910 & there is more extreme heat and fewer cool extremes. Extreme fire weather has increased and the fire season has lengthened across large parts of Aust. since the 1970s. Sea-level rise and ocean acidification will continue.
http://www.csiro.au/Outcomes/Climate/Understanding/State-of-the-Climate-2014.aspx
Video & info: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-03-04/climate-extremes-increasing-carbon-dioxide-levels-rise-report/5295876
Goodbye Scirus
Scirus, the science-specific search engine, has retired (Jan 2014). It was owned and operated by giant medical & scientific publishing company Elsevier (publisher of Lancet & Gray’s anatomy), which does have a reputation for very high subscription costs for universities & other institutions.
Elsevier still offers the ScienceDirect database which searches through thousands of journals and books. Many of the articles have a cost, but free open access full text articles can be found via Advanced search. Articles are suitable for university level and advanced senior high school students.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/
Global Citizen Tickets
This initiative of the Global Poverty Project tracks and rewards social activism that helps address poverty, by giving out free concert tickets. Fans can earn points for each online action taken (not fundraising) and go in the prize draw for tickets. Performers such as the John Butler Trio, Bernard Fanning, The Temper Trap, Gotye, Art vs Science, The Jezabels & Eskimo Joe have all donated tickets to their forthcoming concerts.
www.globalcitizen.org/tickets-au
Global Poverty Project is an international education and advocacy organization working towards the end of extreme poverty by 2030. Since launching in 2012, more than 250 000 Global Citizens have joined, taking more than 1.5 million actions.
http://www.globalpovertyproject.com/
20 Feb 2014
Some interesting resources for geography, science, global studies, sociology, legal studies..…
Human Rights Watch
This excellent and informative independent organisation recently published its World Report 2014, its 24th annual review of human rights practices in over 90 countries.
http://www.hrw.org/world-report/2014
Human rights issues by country – interesting to read about Australia:
http://www.hrw.org/world-report/2014/country-chapters
Current news and human rights information – browse by topic or region: http://www.hrw.org/home
Videos of human rights issues: http://mm.hrw.org/
Rights struggles of 2013: stopping mass atrocities, majority bullying and abusive counterterrorism – keynote by Kenneth Roth: http://www.hrw.org/world-report/2014/essays/rights-struggles-of-2013
Social watch: poverty eradication and gender justice
This international network of citizens’ organisations is committed to peace, social, economic, environmental and gender justice. Social Watch Reports are produced annually, as well as detailed National Reports. The Gender Equity Index measures the gap between men and women in education, the economy and political empowerment. The Basic Capabilities Index monitors the evolution of basic indicators and makes comparisons between and within countries. Detailed statistics are provided for countries and also an interactive map.
http://www.socialwatch.org/
Aust. Human Rights Commission
Comprehensive information – news, current projects, legal issues, forums, publications etc. Includes Asylum seekers and refugees, Disability, Race, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, Rights and freedoms, Age, Sex discrimination, LGBTI.
http://www.humanrights.gov.au/
Hot topics index: http://www.humanrights.gov.au/hot-topics-index
Teachers’ resources and books to download: http://www.humanrights.gov.au/education/human-rights-school-classroom
More human rights links: http://www.humanrights.gov.au/commission-website-information-students-useful-links
International human rights: HSC legal studies
Useful links from the State Library NSW – websites and other resources, some of which need a State Library card (the National Library & Libraries ACT would probably offer access to similar resources).
http://guides.sl.nsw.gov.au/content.php?pid=273664&sid=2390554
Human rights in Aust: http://guides.sl.nsw.gov.au/content.php?pid=273664&sid=2373567
5 Feb 2014
Word of the Year
Here are some words that dominated popular culture in Australia, the US and UK during the last year. Interesting for English, social science and popular culture classes.
The Macquarie Dictionary has just announced its Word of the Year 2013 and the winner is…..
infovore – (noun) a person who craves information, especially one who takes advantage of their ready access to it on digital devices.
So, an infovore is like a carnivore, but hungers for information. Smartphones provide us with instant answers and many of us are addicted to this rush of instant information. Libraries – a great place for infovores!
Honourable mentions:
firescape – (verb) to landscape an area with the possibility of bushfire in mind.
cli-fi – (noun) a genre of speculative fiction based on the premise that climate change will give rise to fundamental changes in the way humans live.
People’s Choice Award: onesie – a loose-fitting one-piece suit, gathered at the wrists and ankles. Please, can we just limit these to babies?
Other category winners: Arts – fanfic
Colloquial – facepalm
Health – enabler
Politics – marriage equality
General interest – watch and act
Communications – churnalism
Social interest – generation debt
http://www.macquariedictionary.com.au/resources/view/word/of/the/year/
Oxford Dictionaries Word of the Year 2013
selfie – (noun) a photograph that one has taken of oneself, typically one taken with a smartphone or webcam and uploaded to a social media website. The frequency of the word selfie increased by 17 000% during the past year. It was first used in an Australian online forum in 2002. Spin-off terms include welfie (a workout selfie), belfie (a posterior selfie) and twofie (with 2 people).
Shortlist includes: binge-watch (watch multiple TV episodes); bitcoin (the digital currency); showrooming ( visiting a shop and then buying it cheaper online); twerk.
http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/press-releases/oxford-dictionaries-word-of-the-year-2013/
Global Language Monitor Top Word of 2013
The 14th annual survey of the English language across 5 continents and spoken by 1.83 billion people.
Top word is ‘404’, followed by fail!, hashtag, @pontifex, the Optic, surveillance, drones, deficit, sequestration, emancipate. 404 is the numeric code for failure on the internet, augmenting its original use as “page not found”.
Top phrase: toxic politics
Top name: Pope Francis.
Most understood word in the world: OK.
Top trending prefix: franken- (any human-instigated activity that spins out of control)
Number of words in the English language (1 Jan 2014 est.): 1 025 109.8
http://www.languagemonitor.com/category/words-of-the-year-woty/
American Dialect Society Word of the Year 2013
because x – used to introduce a noun, adjective or other part of speech. “Because” is now being used in new ways in informal online use and doesn’t have to be followed by “of”. Usage includes “because science”, “because reasons”, “because tired” and “because awesome”.
Other useful words: slash (and/or eg. come and visit slash stay), ACC (aggressive carbon copy used to undermine the email recipient eg. cc’ing the boss), robo sapiens (robots with human-like intelligence).
http://www.americandialect.org/because-is-the-2013-word-of-the-year
Merriam-Webster’s (US) Word of the Year 2013
Based on the greatest increase in lookups over the past year, the top 10 words were not new words, but rather they were the words behind the stories in the news.
Word of the Year is science, followed by cognitive, rapport, communication, niche, ethic, paradox, visceral, integrity, metaphor. http://www.merriam-webster.com/info/2013-word-of-the-year.htm
Interesting info: http://theconversation.com/the-macquarie-dictionary-word-of-the-year-is-22522
2013
18 Dec 2013Google Zeitgeist 2013
Google processes 2 out of every 3 search requests on the internet – so what did the world search for in 2013?
Top 10 global trending searches of 2013
1. Nelson Mandela 2. Paul Walker 3. iPhone 5s 4. Cory Monteith 5. Harlem Shake 6. Boston Marathon 7. Royal Baby 8. Samsung Galaxy s4
9. PlayStation 4 10. North Korea
Cool video: http://www.google.com/trends/topcharts?zg=full
Top 100 searches picture gallery (good for a quiz): http://www.google.com/trends/topcharts?zg=full
Google Trends Australia 2013
Most searched – Easter, Melbourne Cup, Movies…
People – Paul Walker, Cory Monteith, Nelson Mandela, Tony Abbott….
Athletes – Sonny Bill Williams, Federer, LeBron James…
Overseas destinations – Disneyland, Dubai, China, London…
What is….twerking, love, gluten…
http://www.google.com/trends/topcharts?date=2013
YouTube Rewind 2013
Top videos 2013 (global) – Includes Volvo trucks with Van Damme; Harlem Shake (army); baby & me (Evian)…
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSTz8jpJdr5pn9LFw-pXbg0IOFy2Z_td_
Top videos Aust. 2013 – Ylvis the fox (What does the fox say?); How animals eat their food; YOLO (Adam Levine)…. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtrr-XW7pnGDOwdZ17JEGSFkOKdwRVQE2
Top music videos (global) – Psy; Miley; Katy; Pink… https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtrr-XW7pnGDUy4BaN4z62fL4aWAMtqd1
YouTubers star in a mashup of the year’s popular moments: https://www.youtube.com/user/theyearinreview
The 10 weirdest science stories of 2013
Dogs can tell left from right. Cats – they just don’t care. There are 10 smells – and popcorn is one. Compiled by the Aust. Science Media Centre, RiAus and CSIRO.
http://riaus.org.au/podcast/a-week-in-science-13-december-2013/
12 Dec 2013
ICT and popular culture news
Tis the season for lists!
Top 100 Tools for Learning 2013
Always interesting to see the results of the survey by Jane Hart’s Centre for Learning and Performance Technologies (C4LPT) – as voted by 500+ learning professionals from 48 countries. 1. Twitter 2. Google Drive/Docs 3. YouTube 4. Google Search 5. PowerPoint 6. Evernote 7. Dropbox 8. WordPress 9. Facebook 10. Google +
Twitter retained #1 for the 5th year running. Pinterest jumped 14 places to #22. Coursera (MOOC platform) was a new addition at #38. http://c4lpt.co.uk/top100tools/
Analysis: http://c4lpt.co.uk/top100tools/analysis-2013/
Yahoo Year in Review 2013
Interesting videos and images from around the world: http://news.yahoo.com/year-in-review/
Top US searches: Miley Cyrus #1; computer game Minecraft was #4 (high also in Aust). Part exploratory adventure, part creative building tool, highly valued by gamers, teachers, architecture students…watch the YouTube documentary (1 hr 40m) about its development, founder Markus “Notch” Persson and its unorthodox success. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySRgVo1X_18
Facebook trends 2013
Most talked about topics worldwide: 1. Pope Francis 2. Election 3. Royal baby 4. Typhoon 5. Margaret Thatcher 6. Harlem Shake 7. Miley Cyrus 8. Boston Marathon 9. Tour de France 10. Nelson Mandela
Short video: http://newsfeed.time.com/2013/12/09/here-are-facebooks-most-talked-about-topics-for-2013/
For Australia – 9 million daily users: 1. Vote 2. Princess Kate 3. Cricket 4. Kevin Rudd 5. Grand Final 6. Election 7. GST 8. Lions 9. Tony Abbott 10. Big Brother. The most checked in location was the MCG.
http://au.ibtimes.com/articles/528860/20131210/facebook-trends-2013-australia-topics.htm
Top Bing searches in Aust. 2013
Various categories – from quinoa to Miranda Kerr to royal baby to Sydney Swans… http://news.ninemsn.com.au/technology/2013/12/02/18/46/kerr-tops-most-binged-2013-list
Top 10 ads viewed on YouTube in Aust.
http://www.adnews.com.au/adnews/australia-s-most-popular-youtube-ads-in-2013
One minute on the internet today compared to 2012
The interwebs just keeps on getting bigger….75% increase in Google searches; 42% increase in Amazon revenue; 233% growth in YouTube video hours; 250% increase in Twitter tweets.
http://qz.com/150861/a-snapshot-of-one-minute-on-the-internet-today-and-in-2012/#150861/a-snapshot-of-one-minute-on-the-internet-today-and-in-2012/
National Geographic shares maps via Google Maps Engine
Google Maps Engine is a public data program that lets organisations distribute maps to consumers via Google. National Geographic is now sharing 500 of their maps via the program for free. They will overlay the maps with interactive features such as articles and photos about environmental issues, expeditions and historic events.
http://google-latlong.blogspot.ca/2013/12/national-geographic-shares-rich-map_6.html
Drones
Look – up in the sky! It’s your unmanned pizza delivery! The coming drone invasion will deliver everything from pizzas to Amazon products. In the US, Amazon aims for their drones to deliver within a 10 mile range and 30 minute time frame whilst the DomiCopter will deliver 2 Domino’s pizzas. The widespread use of drones has been approved by Congress, starting in 2015. There are of course, many associated privacy and surveillance issues.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-w-whitehead/amazon-dominos-and-big-br_b_4373867.html?ir=Technology
In Australia, a drone was (illegally) used during the NSW bushfires in October but may be used legally in the future. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/technology/drones-ready-to-fight-fires-if-allowed/story-e6frgakx-1226748464574
A textbook rental company will make deliveries by drone to customers in Sydney CBD, starting March 2014 – the first commercial use of drones in the world. The textbooks will be lowered on a cable to the customer.
Short video: http://www.cnet.com.au/australian-textbook-delivery-care-of-drones-339345677.htm
“OK Google” voice search on Chrome web browser (desktop)
No need to type your search query. No need for a microphone either (currently needed in Chrome). Download the Google Voice Search Hotword plugin and say “OK Google, what is an ocelot?”. It will read out most answers. It can be used for searches, translations, reminders, setting calendar events and getting directions. The service is in beta and currently works only with google.com (not .au), but can still be downloaded in Australia. http://www.cnet.com.au/google-introduces-ok-google-voice-search-on-chrome-for-desktop-339346074.htm
Google barges
The 3 mystery barges being built in San Francisco by Google may be “interactive spaces where people learn about new technology”….or they might just be floating retail stores. They will eventually be docked in San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York and will be “curious and visually stunning” exhibition centres with fish fin sails. Gotta beat those cool Apple stores somehow… http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/google-barge/
TED Books
TED Books are interesting short non fiction electronic books, produced once a month by TED Conferences. The books are less than 20 000 words – “long enough to unleash a powerful narrative, but short enough to be read in a single sitting.” Most can be read in less than an hour and are available for Kindle, Nook, iBooks. Price: $1.99 each. The TED Books app is free for the iPad and has audio, video and social features embedded into each book. For a yearly subscription of $14.99, you have access to the entire TED Books archive. http://www.ted.com/pages/tedbooks
5 Dec 2013
Some ideas for holiday reading….
Winners of the 2013 Goodreads Choice Awards
Looking for some good new books to read in the holidays? Check out this list just released by Goodreads, with nearly 2 million votes cast. 20 categories include sci-fi, fantasy, horror, historical fiction, non fiction, memoir & autobiography, graphic novels, picture books, young adult fiction…Something for everyone!
http://www.goodreads.com/choiceawards/best-books-2013?utm_campaign=winners&utm_content=logo&utm_medium=email&utm_source=GRCA_2013
Or try Amazon Editors’ Best Books of 2013: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/browse/-/7728816011
Free ebook: The curious country
From the Office of the Chief Scientist. A collection of essays about the scientific issues affecting Australians today – health and wellbeing, cybercrime, life on other planets, food and water, energy…..Free download from ANU E Press.
http://www.chiefscientist.gov.au/2013/11/The-Curious-Country/
The bone season by Samantha Shannon
This paranormal fantasy book has received a lot of hype and yes there is a lot of info-dumping in the first 50 pages, but it is an intriguing, complex and exciting read. In 2059, many cities are under the control of a security force called Scion. Nineteen year old Paige Mahoney is a clairvoyant who works in the criminal underworld, scouting for information by breaking into the minds of people. When she is captured she is sent to Oxford – now a penal colony controlled by a supernatural race, and there she must become a soldier in their army. It is the first book in the series of 7 and the film rights have been sold.
“[A] dazzingly brainy, witty and bewitching tale of outrageous courage, heroic compassion, transcendent love, and the quest for freedom…the first in a thoughtful fantasy series by a brilliant young writer.” – Booklist
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-bone-season-samantha-shannon/1114205463?ean=9781620401392 http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17199504-the-bone-season
The tournament by Matthew Reilly
Reilly’s new historical mystery set in Constantinople. In 1546 Suleiman the Magnificent, Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, invites every king in Europe to send their finest player to compete in a chess tournament to determine the champion of the world. Accompanying the English delegation is young Bess, who narrates the story and witnesses events that will shape her character as the future Queen Elizabeth I. Murder, intrigue, Ivan the Terrible, Michelangelo…sounds intriguing and sure to be a page turner! But where is Scarecrow??
http://www.matthewreilly.com/the-novels/the-tournament
Reilly’s next releases in 2014 are a fantasy novella about trolls and a techno thriller set in China: http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/books/matthew-reilly-returns-with-the-tournament-20131108-2x6um.html
Reviews: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17611937-the-tournament
Review by Aust. author Jack Heath: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/759256355
29 Nov 2013
Good films coming up
Some good current and future films that support various curriculum areas….
Hunger Games 2: catching fire
Critics say it is far superior to the first – a darker, more mature film. Katniss and Peeta are targeted by the Capitol after a rebellion in Panem. Director: Francis Lawrence. Stars Jennifer Lawrence. The finale will be in 2 parts – Nov 2014 and Nov 2015. Out now. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1951264/
Review: http://variety.com/2013/film/reviews/film-review-the-hunger-games-catching-fire-1200820552/#
Blackfish
Documentary and psychological thriller about the consequences of keeping wild animals in captivity – a powerful and moving film that examines the case of Tilikum the killer whale at SeaWorld, who has been involved in 3 deaths since his capture in 1983. The film presents a solid case for the end of animal exploitation. Director: Gabriela Cowperthwaite. Out now. http://www.sbs.com.au/films/movie/14822/blackfish http://www.theguardian.com/film/movie/155585/blackfish
Mr Pip
Based on the acclaimed novel by Lloyd Jones. Director: Andrew Adamson. Stars Hugh Laurie. Music by Tim Finn. Set in Bougainville in the late 1980s during the dispute between PNG separatists and foreign mining interests. A white man reluctantly accepts the role of community schoolteacher, where much of his curriculum is centred on reading aloud from the novel Great Expectations. The power of its prose has fateful implications for the future of all on the island. “A song of praise for the power (and danger) of literature” – Susan Wyndham, SMH. Out now.
http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/review/movie/mr-pip-20131104-2wxia.html
The book: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/543873.Mister_Pip
Ender’s game
Based on the acclaimed novel by Orson Scott Card. Director: Gavin Hood. Stars Harrison Ford and Asa Butterfield. A young boy is recruited by a military academy to help save the human race. I saw the film this week – it was quite powerful with lots of themes to discuss – suitable for age 10+ and high school. Opens 5 Dec.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1731141/
The hobbit: the desolation of Smaug
The 2nd instalment in The hobbit trilogy. Director: Peter Jackson. Stars Martin Freeman. Bilbo, Gandalf and the dwarves continue their quest to reclaim their homeland from Smaug the dragon. They should be all right though, they seem indestructible! Opens 26 Dec.
http://www.thehobbitblog.com/
Saving Mr Banks
Director: John Lee Hancock. Stars Emma Thompson and Tom Hanks. A behind-the-scenes look at the making of Disney’s 1964 film Mary Poppins, revealing the tension between author P.L Travers and Walt Disney, and their differing views on how the novel should be interpreted. Opens 26 Dec.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2140373/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
Review: http://www.digitalspy.com/movies/review/a521772/saving-mr-banks-review-tom-hanks-emma-thompson-make-mary-poppins.html
In 2014 and later…
Mandela: long walk to freedom
Based on the autobiography of Nelson Mandela. Chronicles Mandela’s life from his childhood to his election as president of South Africa. Director: Justin Chadwick. Stars Idris Elba. This will be a powerful and informative film – the trailer looks great. It received an unprecedented 8 minute standing ovation at the Toronto Film Festival. Opens Jan 2014.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2304771/ http://edition.cnn.com/2013/11/05/showbiz/mandela-movie-long-walk-freedom/index.html
12 years a slave
Based on the 1853 book by Solomon Northup and his fight for survival, dignity and freedom. As a free black man from upstate New York, he was abducted in 1841 and sold into slavery in southern USA. After 12 years, he was freed after official intervention and related his story, which was then published. Director: Steve McQueen. Stars: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender, Brad Pitt. Musical score: Hans Zimmer. Opens 30 Jan.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2024544/
Review – “An essential look at man’s inhumanity to man”: http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv-movies/12-years-slave-movie-review-article-1.1488866
Book – public domain, free online, including audiobook: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twelve_Years_a_Slave
Divergent
Based on the popular sci-fi novel by Veronica Roth, part of a trilogy. In post-apocalyptic Chicago, people are divided into 5 factions based on their personalities & virtues. A young woman discovers that she is Divergent and does not fit into any one faction. Can she stop the sinister plot brewing in this “perfect” society? Director: Neil Burger. Stars Shailene Woodley and Kate Winslet. Opens 20 March.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1840309/
I, Frankenstein
Based on the graphic novel by Kevin Grevioux. Frankenstein’s creature, an intelligent evolved man (?!), is caught up in the modern world in a centuries old war between 2 immortal clans. Written & directed by Stuart Beattie. Stars Aaron Eckhart, Bill Nighy. Opens 27 Feb.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1418377/
Maleficent
Dark fantasy – the tale of Sleeping Beauty, told from the perspective of the evil sorceress Maleficent. Why did she put the curse on Princess Aurora? Director: Robert Stromberg. Stars Angelina Jolie and Elle Fanning. Opens June 2014. http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/movies/first-look-angelina-jolie-as-maleficent-in-reworking-of-sleeping-beauty-myth-20131113-2xgkp.html
The giver
Based on the dystopian novel by Lois Lowry, winner of the 1994 Newbery Medal. In a seemingly perfect society without conflict or suffering, a young boy is chosen to be the Receiver of Memory and to learn from an elderly man – The Giver. As he learns the truth about his world’s past, he discovers the power of knowledge and faces difficult choices about his future. Director: Phillip Noyce. Stars Jeff Bridges, Katie Holmes, Meryl Streep. Opens late 2014.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0435651/
The book: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Giver
Interstellar
Based on the theories of physicist Kip Thorne – a new intriguing sci-fi film co-written by Christopher & Jonathan Nolan. Director: Christopher Nolan. Stars: Matt Damon, Michael Caine, Jessica Chastain and Anne Hathaway. A group of explorers travel through a wormhole and alternate dimensions, to the furthest reaches of our scientific understanding. Yay more Timey Wimey stuff! Opens Nov 2014.
http://www.interstellar-movie.com/ http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=38606
Into the woods
Musical fantasy film based on the Broadway musical. In the world of Grimm’s fairy tales, a witch decides to teach important lessons to various fairy tale characters. Director: Rob Marshall. Stars Meryl Streep as the witch; Johnny Depp as the Big Bad Wolf, Emily Blunt as The Baker’s Wife. Opens Dec 2014.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Into_the_Woods_(film)
Alexander and the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day
Based on the classic 1972 book by Judith Viorst. 11 year old Alexander experiences the most terrible day of his life but eventually learns that he is not alone. Stars Steve Carrell and Jennifer Garner. Opens Oct 2014. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_and_the_Terrible,_Horrible,_No_Good,_Very_Bad_Day_(film)
Paddington
Live action film based on the books by Michael Bond about the lovable young bear from Peru who travels to London in search of a home and is adopted by the Brown family. Director: Paul King. Stars Colin Firth (as the voice of Paddington), Peter Capaldi, Julie Walters, Matt Lucas, Jim Broadbent and Nicole Kidman as an evil taxidermist. Opens Dec 2014. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1109624/ http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/nicole-kidman-grins-and-bears-her-evil-role-in-the-paddington-bear-movie/story-fni0cx12-1226753784881
27 Nov 2013
iPad app: Transformation Sentences
Here is a powerful educational iPad app for teachers of sentence construction, sentence transformation and spelling: Transformation Sentences ($1.99 in the App Store; requires iOS7). It would be very useful for teachers of students who are learning to read – primary, high school, adult and ESL.
It was developed specifically for several teachers at Dickson College who wanted an app to support the Scaffolding Literacy program in the Secondary Introductory English Centre. Students here have just started learning English in Australia and will later move to ESL classes. The teachers wanted an app that wasn’t full of fancy bells and whistles but supported the teaching of literacy skills. The app has been used very successfully in class.
YouTube video demonstrating the features of the Transformation Sentences app:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slX6TwDG0gU
Features include:
Sentences: Enter text, rearrange and drag individual words. Use for prediction games, cloze exercises etc
Spelling: Separate a word into letters or sounds.
Shuffle: Places all words in a sentence into random order. Students then reassemble the sentence.
Extra words: Add extra words and label parts of a sentence (eg. Who? What? Where?).
Save data: Save up to 10 sentences or spelling lists in folders. Send the folders to other iPads via Bluetooth or wi-fi (this enables the teacher to type a paragraph just once, which is then sent to the students’ iPads).
Draw: Use your finger as a pencil to write words directly on the screen.
Customise: Choose font, size and background.
13 Nov 2013
ICT news and the online world
Some ICT news…useful for sociology, media studies, popular culture, business studies, psychology and BYOD schools….
Australian Online Landscape Review Sept 2013
This Nielsen report found 16.4 million Australians were actively online in Sept 2013.
Top 10 brands in order: Google; Facebook; Mi9; YouTube; Microsoft; Yahoo!7; eBay; Wikipedia; Apple; ABC Online. More hours are devoted to Facebook per person than any other site and people spend longer on eBay than Wikipedia.
Online video streaming – top 10 brands in order: YouTube; Facebook; Mi9; VEVO (music videos); CollegeHumor Network; Yahoo!7; ABC Online; smh.com.au; news.com.au; Vube (video sharing contests). Men streamed 30.1% more videos than women and most streaming was done by 18-24 year olds.
41% of daily browsers came from a mobile device or tablet and 58% from a computer.
http://www.nielsen.com/content/dam/corporate/au/en/reports/2013/Nielsen-Australian-Online-Landscape-Review-September-2013.pdf
http://www.nielsen.com/au/en.html
Australian Multi Screen Report (Q2 2013)
This Nielsen report found 92% of all video viewing is on the TV set; 80% of homes have the internet; 33% of homes have tablets; 22% of homes have internet-connected TVs; 65% aged 16+ own a smartphone.
http://www.nielsen.com/content/dam/corporate/au/en/press/2013/australian-multi-Screen-report-media-release-october-2013.pdf
Australian tablet sales poised to eclipse desktop computers and laptops
Telsyte predicts tablet sales & use will eclipse PCs, Macs & laptops within 2 years. In the first half of 2013, Australians bought 2.3 million tablets – more than for the whole of 2012. Smartphone sales continue to rise, with 14 million users in Aust. By 2014 in Aust., more people will access the internet on smartphones than computers. Tablets will follow.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/aussie-tablet-computer-sales-poised-to-eclipse-those-of-traditional-desktop-computers-and-laptops/story-fni0cx12-1226710882032
Most popular websites on the internet for 8 Nov 2013
Top 12 in order: Google; Facebook; YouTube; Yahoo; Baidu; Wikipedia; Qq; Linkedin; Windows Live; Twitter; Amazon; Blogger. Click on the entries for interesting info about the companies – website review, news, traffic graph, website worth.
http://mostpopularwebsites.net/
Alexa top 500 sites on the web
Similar top 10 to above. Alexa ranks Bing at 19; eBay at 20; Pinterest at 26; Instagram at 40; imdb at 47. http://www.alexa.com/topsites -
Top 500 sites in Australia: http://www.alexa.com/topsites/countries/AU. Linkedin is 8; Gumtree is 12; realestate.com.au is 18; Seek is 26; Pirate Bay is 33.
Search top sites by country: http://www.alexa.com/topsites/countries
9 ways video games can actually be good for you
Mothers of gamers – stop stressing! Play games, increase your brain size & stop aging!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/07/video-games-good-for-us_n_4164723.html?ir=Technology&utm_campaign=110713&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Alert-technology&utm_content=FullStory
Video games represent the most powerful (and potentially dangerous) era in storytelling
Video games are expressive & formative and, relative to other forms of storytelling, allow for choice.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/paul-runge/video-game-violence_b_4067069.html
1 Nov 2013
ebooks at the National Library of Australia
Some info about finding ebooks available freely online through the National Library….
The National Library has a wide range of ebooks. For most of these you will need an NLA library card (apply online). A search for ebooks in eResources shows resources such as Ebsco ebooks; OECD iLibrary; Oxford Reference; Early English Books Online and titles in Gale Virtual Reference Library.
http://www.nla.gov.au/app/eresources/search/ebooks/?rows=10&start=0&context=ebooks
Many titles are also accessible in the NLA catalogue.
Ebooks: a guide to finding ebooks at the NLA: http://www.nla.gov.au/research-guides/ebooks
When you do a NLA catalogue search and hit enter, look for the Narrow Search option on the far right of the screen and choose E-resources. Choose All Online to get resources with online links, such as ebooks. Click on a title and login with your NLA library card. You can also find books digitised by the NLA in the catalogue by adding the delimiter “NLA digitised material” to your initial search. The catalogue also has links to titles that can be found in Google Books – what an excellent resource this is for accessing full text chapters of books to read online.
Currently there are 897 non fiction Ebsco ebooks in the NLA catalogue (search for ebscohost to see the complete list). Ebsco ebooks can be downloaded to your device and accessed for 5 days. Only one person at a time can view the Ebsco ebook. http://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Search/Home?lookfor=ebscohost&type=all&limit%5b%5d=&submit=Find&filter%5b%5d=format:%22Book%22
Guide to using Ebsco ebooks: http://www.nla.gov.au/research-guides/ebooks/ebsco-ebooks
31 Oct 2013
Good TV programs
Some great TV programs that support many areas of the curriculum….
Doctor Who 50th anniversary special: The day of the Doctor
ABC1 Sunday 24 Nov early in the morning! The ABC will simultaneously broadcast the 75 minute special as it goes live from the UK with a 7.30pm repeat. 87 Australian cinemas will also show it in 3D on the big screen. The special will star Matt Smith, David Tennant, John Hurt, Billie Piper and Jenna Coleman, and reveals the dangerous past of the Doctor. It is the longest running sci-fi TV show in the world and has 80 million viewers.
ABC iView has shown many episodes of recent Dr Who series ahead of the evening broadcast time. In the lead-up to the anniversary episode, iView will show 47 classic episodes featuring every Doctor from the first to the eighth, plus awesome monsters and favourite companions.
ABC2 is also showing specials on Sundays at 7.30pm, starting with Doctor Who explained (20 Oct) – everything you need to know about the Doctor – current, past or future. Other programs include The science of Doctor Who; The timey-wimey of Doctor Who; The women of Doctor Who; The destinations of Doctor Who. And you can watch all episodes from series 1-7 on ABC2 weeknights at 7.30pm. Something for everyone – if only we had more time hehe.
http://mumbrella.com.au/abc-simulcast-doctor-50th-anniversary-special-180854
Excellent recent trailer – 5 decades of The Doctor: http://metro.co.uk/2013/10/20/doctor-who-the-50th-celebration-trailer-doesnt-feature-the-day-of-the-doctor-footage-but-it-couldnt-be-any-better-4152398/
Ja’mie: private school girl
ABC1 – starts Wed 23 Oct 9 pm. The new 6 part mockumentary series chronicles the final 3 months of high school for 17 year old private school captain Ja’mie King…..and who hasn’t got a soft spot for rude, self-obsessed Ja’mie? Chris Lilley is a great actor, whether in male or female roles. This series features a sexting scandal, love interests and the possibility of being immortalised in bronze. Ja’mazing!
http://www.abc.net.au/tv/programs/jamie-private-school-girl/http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/ja8217mie-private-school-girl-chris-lilley8217s-new-comedy-series-is-a-return-to-raunchy-fun-after-the-dark-angry-boys/story-e6frfmq9-1226731555319
The art of Australia
ABC1 Tues 22 Oct 8.30pm. Hosted by Edmund Capon, this 3 part series explores how art and artists helped to shape Australia’s national identity, from the colonial period to the present. The series interweaves the story of British, European and indigenous art traditions and includes the works of Lycett, Roberts, Streeton, Nolan, Boyd, Fairweather, Olsen and the Papunya movement.
http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/art-and-design/master-strokes-that-set-the-artistic-landscape-20131020-2vv4d.html
Autopsy on a dream
ABC1 Sun 20 Oct 9.25pm. The controversial recently found 1968 BBC film that looks at the construction of the Sydney Opera House and the resignation of Jorn Utzon. Updated voice-over by original narrator Bob Ellis. Includes 30 minute prologue The dream of perfection, the story of the film plus interviews.
http://www.abc.net.au/arts/blog/arts-desk/Autopsy-on-a-Dream-Sydney-Opera-House-131015/default.htm
Redfern now: series 2
ABC1 – starts Thurs 31 Oct 8.30pm – 6 parts. The follow-up to the acclaimed first series written & directed by indigenous Australians, exploring the lives of indigenous families in inner city Redfern, Sydney. Some of the characters return from season 1, including Deborah Mailman, Wayne Blair, Leah Purcell. New additions include Ernie Dingo, Sibylla Budd and Steve Bisley. Directors include Beck Cole, Wayne Blair, Leah Purcell and Rachel Perkins. This series will once again provide powerful and moving stories and is an excellent resource supporting the ACARA Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures Cross-curriculum Priority. http://www.tvtonight.com.au/event/redfern-now
Coast Australia
History Channel – starts December. Presented by Neil Oliver, with Australian experts – an Australian version of the acclaimed British series. The 8 part series explores stories and facts about our coastal history, people, archaeology, geography and marine life. And if you like Neil Oliver’s TV history series, then you will have a chance to see him in Australia in December with his History in the Making shows, bringing British and Australian history to life.
http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2013/10/neil-oliver-coasts-to-australia-for-live-tour.html
The fatal shore
Looks like the book by Robert Hughes will finally be filmed. The 6 part dramatised documentary series will be hosted by Neil Oliver, with CGI-created re-enactments of epic events. Due 2014.
http://if.com.au/2013/07/17/article/The-Fatal-Shore-headed-for-the-screen/OTHQCXEJYH.html
Catch-up TV
ABC iView, SBS on Demand, PLUS7, ninemsn Video and now TENplay – these services are great for catching up on missed shows. Although programs cannot be saved and are not online forever, they are very useful for classes to watch – especially in schools that don’t have access to online digital video systems like ClickView.The new TENPlay service plans to live stream the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics and some shows can be accessed on TENPlay before they are broadcast locally. There are also rumours that US streaming giants Hulu and Netflix may launch locally.Despite these options, Australians are still major TV pirates, leading the way with torrent downloads of the finales of Breaking bad and Game of thrones.
http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/digital-life-news/tenplay-tv-catching-up-on-catchups-20131009-2v6pj.html
25 Sept 2013
The turning (film) and good ads
The turning
This film sounds unique and intriguing – the adaptation of Tim Winton’s wonderful book of interconnected stories, set across 3 decades. Produced by Robert Connolly; 17 directors from diverse disciplines present each story in the book. Each director has told the story in a different way – including a sand animation; a triptych film and a dance piece. It includes the directorial debuts of David Wenham and Mia Wasikowska and also includes pieces by video artist Shaun Gladwell, Bangarra choreographer Stephen Page and indigenous director Warwick Thornton.Stars Hugo Weaving, Rose Byrne, Cate Blanchett, Richard Roxburgh. Opens 26 Sept as a 3 hour film with an interval – it may run for just 2 weeks. Seems to be a very special Australian film.
Trailer and chapter synopses: http://www.theturningmovie.com.au/
Review: http://www.theguardian.com/film/australia-culture-blog/2013/aug/05/the-turning-tim-winton-review
Some resources about advertising for media, social science, popular culture, business studies classes….
TED: Ads worth spreading
In February you may have seen these 10 winning ads chosen by TED and recognized for their innovation, ingenuity and intelligence. Love “Follow the frog” and “Find your understanding” is just gorgeous.
Winners 2013: http://www.ted.com/initiatives/aws
Report – analysis of the winners & what makes good ads: http://storage.ted.com/aws/TED-Ads-Worth-Spreading-Report.pdf
Winners 2012: http://www.adweek.com/adfreak/teds-2012-ads-worth-spreading-winners-longer-ads-rule-again-138608
Dumb ways to die
Melbourne folk are no doubt familiar with this catchy, quirky 3 minute animated jingle – part of the safety campaign for Metro Trains. The Gruen Transfer (18 Sept) had a great discussion of the ad, which has won more awards than any other ad in the history of the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, the Oscars of the ad world. Over 55 million views on YouTube with heaps of parodies; games app also available. The success of the campaign has caused “Dumb ways to….” to become a phrasal template or snowclone (as in “X is the new Y”).
http://www.brw.com.au/p/marketing/dumb_ways_cannes_die_leads_stellar_HzkQAnw4uaZopV1iMshILO
http://www.news.com.au/business/dumb-ways-to-die-ad-for-train-safety-wins-big-at-cannes/story-e6frfm1i-1226665413224
http://dumbwaystodie.com/
The world’s best commercials 2012-2013: Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity
See the 21 winning ads from the June festival.
http://www.adweek.com/news-gallery/advertising-branding/worlds-best-commercials-2012-13-150657?js=1&view_name=news_gallery&view_display_id=node_content_1&view_args=150657&view_path=node%2F150657&view_base_path=node%2F150657&view_dom_id=1&pager_element=0#metro-trains-dumb-ways-to-die-1
12 Sept 2013
ICT news, Raspberry Pi and more free article access
More free access to online journal articles
Many more research papers are now openly available online. A recent report produced for the European Commission found that you have a 50% chance of finding papers published in 2011 for free, but some experts say it is more like 30%.
The proportion of free online papers is likely to increase in the next few years with moves towards getting government-funded research papers into the public domain. From 2014, the results of all research funded by the European Union must be open access. In February, the White House announced that government-funded research should be made free to read within 12 months of publication. A Science-Metrix study found that an average of 43% of articles published during 2008–11 were available online for free, with the results varying by country and discipline.
http://www.nature.com/news/half-of-2011-papers-now-free-to-read-1.13577
In Google we trust (ABC, Four Corners, 9/9/13)
Who gathers the information, what are they doing with it and what are your legal rights? Examines online privacy, digital footprints, Big Data etc. and tracks the information trail of an ordinary Australian family. Excellent program for high school – social science, media, legal studies classes, general interest.
http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/stories/2013/09/09/3842009.htm
Raspberry Pi
The credit-card sized cheap programmable computer ($25 - $35) was developed by the Raspberry Pi Foundation in the UK to promote the teaching of basic computer science in schools. It was launched in Feb 2012, sold over 1 million units in a year & earned many awards. It has been used to create a coffee machine, doorbell server, robot, weather information system and many other things: http://www.raspberrypi.org/phpBB3/viewforum.php?f=15
It plugs into your TV and a keyboard and can be used for word-processing, spreadsheets, playing HD video and games. It runs the Linux OS and the official programming language is Python or any language which will compile for ARMv6. Tutorials are available, including video.
“Developing countries are interested in the Raspberry Pi as productivity devices in areas that simply can’t afford the power and hardware needed to run a traditional desktop PC; hospitals and museums have contacted us to find out about using the Raspberry Pi to drive display devices. Parents of severely disabled kids have talked to us about monitoring and accessibility applications; and there seem to be a million and one people out there with hot soldering irons who want to make a robot.”
http://www.linux.com/news/hardware/desktops/676486-raspberry-pi-one-of-the-top-linux-innovations-of-2012/
Good article about using Raspberry Pi in schools for programming: http://www.dw.de/raspberry-pi-and-the-new-computer-science-kids/a-16699939
http://www.raspberrypi.org/
http://www.raspberrypi.org/faqs
Mark Zuckerberg announces Internet.org
The Facebook CEO believes that all 7 billion people on the planet deserve to be connected to the internet. Internet.org is a new partnership with some of the world’s top tech companies including Facebook, Samsung, Nokia & Qualcomm, and it aims to make internet access available to the two-thirds of the world who are not yet connected (5 billion people).
Zuckerberg posted a paper to his Facebook page titled “Is connectivity a human right?”. Internet.org plans to develop cheaper smartphones and tools that would reduce the amount of data required to run mobile apps. Connecting the world is beneficial to Internet.org companies and they have received some flak. However, Zuckerberg has already been involved in philanthropic projects. In 2010 he donated $100 million to FB stock to New Jersey schools. He also gave $500 million to a Silicon Valley charity that funds health & education projects. Earlier this year he launched Fwd.us, a political group aimed at changing US immigration policy, boosting education and encouraging investment in scientific research.
http://www.internet.org/
http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/524373/zuckerberg_mocked_doubted_praised_internet_org_plan/
http://www.theverge.com/2013/8/20/4642470/facebook-ceo-mark-zuckerberg-wants-to-bring-the-entire-world-online
Google: Project Loon
In June, Google launched Project Loon with the goal of getting everyone on Earth online. In New Zealand, they launched 30 giant helium balloons, 15m wide and 12m tall, with internet-beaming antennas on top. People connect to the balloon network using a special internet antenna attached to their building. The signal bounces from balloon to balloon, then back to earth. It might be possible to build a ring of balloons, flying 20 km high around the globe, providing internet access & mobile phone signals to the earth below.
Google is also involved in other projects that bring internet access to developing countries. Its Free Zone project with Bharti Airtel in India provides free access to Google, Gmail and Google+ for mobile phone users.
Interesting videos & info: http://www.theverge.com/2013/6/14/4432262/google-unveils-project-loon-ballon-powered-internet-for-the-entire
http://www.google.com/loon/
The web is dead and the app thankfully killed it - Jeff Stibel
In 2012 for the first time, time spent on the web started to contract. The web is being replaced by more functional apps. Smartphone users spend nearly double the time using apps rather than the web. "In an era of information overload, search is less valuable than filtering....and filtering is done best through apps....download the app and never search again."
http://www.wired.co.uk/magazine/archive/2013/09/ideas-bank/the-web-is-dead-and-the-app-thankfully-killed-it
Jeff Stibel' s 2013 book: Breakpoint: why the web will implode, search will be obsolete and everything else you need to know about technology is in your brain.
Bing Schools
Bing has launched Bing Schools in the US, an initiative to bring ad-free, filtered search results to students. It’s currently in pilot mode.
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/bing-launches-bing-schools-ad-100000326.html
12 Sept 2013
R U OK? Day
The R U OK? Foundation is dedicated to encouraging conversations to prevent suicide and promote mental health.
R U OK? Day is a national day of action and reminds people to regularly check in with family and friends and meaningfully ask ‘are you ok?’ of anyone struggling with life.
How to ask R U OK? Follow the steps or use the 4 min. cartoon video or PPT or PDF: https://www.ruokday.com/resources-for-you/how-to-ask-r-u-ok/
More resources: https://www.ruokday.com/resources-for-you/r-u-ok-at-school/
Inspiring video stories: https://www.ruokday.com/video-stories/
Crisis support and hotlines: Lifeline, SANE, Beyondblue, ReachOut, Headspace and more.
https://www.ruokday.com/resources-for-you/crisis-support/
Mental health organisations
Recent research has shown that young people are becoming less likely to call helplines, preferring online chat instead.
ReachOut
Online fact sheets, tips and forums to help 14-25 year olds manage tough times, including stories and online discussions.
http://au.reachout.com/
BeyondBlue
Information and resources about depression and anxiety.
http://www.beyondblue.org.au/
Black Dog Institute
Information about mood disorders such as depression and bipolar disorder; staying well techniques.
http://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/
Headspace
The National Youth Mental Health Foundation. Online chat and telephone support.
http://www.headspace.org.au/
4 Sept 2013
Indigenous Literacy Day
This day promotes literacy in remote indigenous communities. The Indigenous Literacy Foundation raises funds for books and other literacy projects in these areas, with over 100 000 books supplied to 230 remote communities over the past 4 years. Many local schools have been fundraising.
http://www.indigenousliteracyfoundation.org.au/
Here are some useful resources for the ACARA Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures Cross-Curriculum Priority:
Online Larrakia calendar: seasons according to the indigenous Larrakia people of the Darwin region
September for us means warmer weather and maybe hayfever – but for the Larrakia people, September brings the Dalirrgang season – the Build Up for the wet season, with mangrove fruit and magpie geese. This new interactive online calendar has colourful pictures, simple information and descriptive words read by Larrakia people. Interesting and informative and a great contrast to our seasons down south!
From CSIRO: “For the first time, detailed Aboriginal seasonal knowledge of the Darwin region has been converted into an interactive online educational resource, aligned to the Australian Curriculum: Science. Researcher Emma Woodward said many Aboriginal people are concerned about the loss of their knowledge, while at the same time there is strong demand from schools for more traditional ecological information. The observations of Aboriginal people have revealed relationships and links between plants, animals, water and climate that other people were not aware of.
The online Larrakia calendar shows seven seasons in an annual cycle of climatic and ecological understanding. The Larrakia calendar could also be used to monitor future environmental change.”
http://www.larrakia.csiro.au/#/calendar/dalay
Teacher resources: http://www.larrakia.csiro.au/#/page/teacher-activity-area
ABC indigenous portal
Excellent links to news, TV programs, online videos, arts reviews, community stories.
http://www.abc.net.au/indigenous/
The Indigenous Quarter (ABC TV)
Part of the ABC’s informative Quarters programs (approx 15 mins each month) – Technology, Culture, Health, Consumer, Arts, Environment, Finance, Food, Rural, Weather. Videos remain online for several months. http://www.abc.net.au/news/abcnews24/programs/the-quarters/
The Indigenous Quarter monthly program reports on the latest indigenous news. This week – the Federal Government hands back 5000 hectares of land to traditional owners in the top end; historian Bill Gammage tells how Australia’s first inhabitants shaped the landscape.
27 Aug edition: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-08-27/the-indigenous-quarter-episode-9/4915918/?site=indigenous&topic=latesthttp://www.abc.net.au/tv/programs/indigenous-quarter/
More ABC videos about indigenous news and issues: http://www.abc.net.au/indigenous/video/default.htm#pagemenu
NITV: National Indigenous TV
Channel 34 on digital TV; part of SBS. Interesting programs eg. NITV News, the Barefoot Sports Show, the Marngrook Footy Show, Yaarnz, Living Strong, Grounded, Volumz Music Program, Waabiny Time and Go Lingo – popular shows that send out positive messages about indigenous Australia and speak primarily to indigenous Australians.
http://www.nitv.org.au/
NITV is highly regarded for its quality documentaries. From 1 July, a series of mini documentaries has been shown weeknights at 6.30pm. Our Stories, Our Way, Everyday are 15 minute films by emerging filmmakers, showing a slice of life from their communities. Available on SBS on Demand. http://www.nitv.org.au/fx-program.cfm?pid=2A73F286-C86D-08A2-254373436727D643&pgid=2D8A8857-D894-63A6-008070BA52593BF0
Creative Spirits
http://www.creativespirits.info/
This comprehensive website has excellent links for indigenous culture and resources. It is curated by a non indigenous person who has received acclaim for the information provided.
Books and reviews about indigenous culture – art, autobiography, children’s, novels, history, sport, teaching resources etc: http://www.creativespirits.info/resources/books
Films dealing with indigenous issues – indigenous and non indigenous directors. Includes synopsis of each: http://www.creativespirits.info/resources/movies/
The black list: film and TV projects since 1970 with indigenous Australians in key creative roles
Published in June 2010, Screen Australia’s comprehensive reference book The black list catalogues the work of 257 Indigenous Australians with credits since 1970 as producer, director, writer or director of photography. Includes details of the film and TV projects and availability.
Search the Find a Film database: http://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/research/prod_industry_indig.aspx
PDF of the book: http://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/documents/SA_publications/BlackList.pdf
Updated chronology of indigenous film and TV 1970 – 2012:
http://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/getmedia/5af3d578-7a13-416c-b094-6739a1828e0c/BlackListChronology.pdf
New media may help save ancient languages
80% of Australia’s 150 remaining Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander languages are highly endangered. Experts recently met in Melbourne to discuss how to preserve these languages – eg. online indigenous language lessons; films; online stories written & spoken in indigenous languages; apps for indigenous languages…
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-08-28/new-media-may-help-save-worlds-oldest-cultures/4919974/?site=indigenous&topic=latest
Treasure trove of indigenous language documents discovered
200 documents in 100 indigenous languages from across Australia were recently unearthed at the NSW State Library, detailing early contact between Aboriginal people and European settlers. Indigenous services librarian Ronald Briggs: “…if you’re learning about language you’re also learning about culture and a lot of the other written documents that we’ve found are telling us about our cultures as they were practiced 100-150 years ago, it’s absolutely fantastic”. He will help indigenous communities access the material.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-08-26/early-indigenous-language-documents-unearthed-at-nsw-library/4912960
19 Aug 2013
Happy Book Week!
It's Book Week– a great time to celebrate books, writing and reading – in paper or digital form J
The winning children's books have been announced by the Children's Book Council of Australia. Books for Older Readers are very suitable for college students and other titles are used in Children's Literature classes. We buy several each year. You might also be interested if you have young children.
Winners: http://cbca.org.au/winners2013.htm
Notable books: http://cbca.org.au/Notables2013.htm
In the library we are running a daily Trivia Quiz with 10 questions posted daily and prizes given to the first correct answers. We are continuing with the Sci-ku poetry writing competition so send us your haiku poems on a science theme J
Looking for good reads? Try these sites:
Dymocks’ best 101 books of all time: 2013 list
Looking for a good read? Try something from this list, as voted by 7000 readers. The Harry Potter series has regained top spot, followed by Pride and prejudice.
http://www.dymocks.com.au/Booklovers/101club.aspx
Australian Independent Bookseller
Weekly Top 10 bestsellers; book news, Indie Awards chosen annually. Winner of this year’s Miles Franklin Literary Award: Questions of travel by Michelle de Kretser.
http://www.indies.com.au/
Indie Book of the Year: The light between oceans by M.L. Stedman.
Winners: http://www.readings.com.au/news/the-2013-indie-award-winners
Get Reading!
http://www.getreading.com.au/
Formerly known as Books Alive, this is Australia’s largest annual celebration of books and reading, held in September each year. On 1 Sept, the 2013 list of the Top 50 Books You Can’t Put Down will be announced, as well as a list of Australia’s favourite books. The free guide will be available in bookstores and online.
Some great book suggestions - book lists from 2007-2012: http://www.getreading.com.au/50-books-you-cant-put-down/
Banned books
Various banned book lists – interesting and well presented: http://www.goodreads.com/list/tag/banned
Read about the secret history of Australian censorship and prohibited publications....Peyton Place, Brave new world, The catcher in the rye....intriguing!
http://blog.naa.gov.au/banned/
Twentieth-century Australia had the strictest censorship of any democratic nation. Publications of all kinds were kept under surveillance and thousands of books were banned as seditious, blasphemous or obscene. Read more: http://www.lib.unimelb.edu.au/collections/special/exhibitions/bannedbooks/exhibition/
List of banned books in Australia: http://www.lib.unimelb.edu.au/collections/special/exhibitions/bannedbooks/exhibition/australia.html
More links: http://www.lib.unimelb.edu.au/collections/special/exhibitions/bannedbooks/
The best 100 opening lines from books: Click on the book covers to reveal the lines from excellent books, old and new.
http://www.stylist.co.uk/life/the-best-100-opening-lines-from-books/
100 best closing lines from books: http://www.stylist.co.uk/life/the-best-100-closing-lines-from-books
100 best films based on books: http://www.stylist.co.uk/life/top-100-films-based-on-books
The 8 darkest fairy tales: http://www.stylist.co.uk/books/the-eight-darkest-fairy-tales#image-rotator-1
Arts and Letters Daily
http://www.aldaily.com/
Highly regarded website with dailyreport of news in literature, language, philosophy, ideas, criticism, history, music, art, culture - includes reviews of new books, essays and articles. Excellent links to other cultural websites and blogs. Something for everyone! eg. A brief history of applause, the Big Data of the ancient world: http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2013/03/a-brief-history-of-applause-the-big-data-of-the-ancient-world/274014/
AustLit: the Australian literature resource
http://www.austlit.edu.au/
AustLit aims to be the definitive virtual information resource for Australian literary, print and narrative culture. It includes information about fiction, poetry, theatre & film writing, biographical & travel writing and reviews. Some full text creative and critical works are also available. All Aust. teachers have free access.
What's in AustLit: http://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/5961903
Full text collections: Poems, novels, criticism, reviews, children’s literature and early Aust. science fiction. http://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/5960585
Full text search:http://www.austlit.edu.au/?ex=FullTextSearch
AustLit includes the BlackWords database. BlackWords provides searchable information about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander writers, storytellers and their published and unpublished books, stories, plays, poems and criticism. It includes works in English and in Indigenous Australian languages. http://www.austlit.edu.au/specialistDatasets/BlackWords
Sydney Review of Books
http://sydneyreviewofbooks.com/
“Sparked by concerns about the dwindling space for literary criticism in Australian media, the Sydney Review of Books is an online review site focusing on Australian writers and writing”. It has reviews and articles about fiction, non fiction, poetry & other feature articles.
Happy Book Week!
16 Aug 2013
National Science Week
National Science Week is on 10 – 18 August – an annual celebration of science in Australia.http://www.scienceweek.net.au/
Maybe it’s time to enter the national Sci-ku poetry competition with a short 3 line Haiku-style poem about science – this year with a statistics or mathematics theme: http://riaus.org.au/events/sciku/
We are having a Sci-ku writing competition for Science Week and Book Week at our college – after all Book Week has the universe theme! We are going to be flexible with syllables (usually 5,7,5).Sci-ku examples: http://blog.mbl.edu/?p=1953
African clawed frogs
have flown on the space shuttle.
That’s one giant leap.
(Greg Early)
Some know the time by
looking at the sun. I can’t
make out the numbers
(A. Shalizi)
Good sites for science news:
Science Daily: Extensive science news http://www.sciencedaily.com/
Scirus: Use this science-specific search engine for science news, information, journal articles etc http://info.scirus.com/
CSIRO: Includes news, blogs, CSIROpedia http://www.csiro.au/en.aspx
ABC Science: News, TV and radio programs http://www.abc.net.au/science/
Royal Institution of Australia: A national science hub bringing science to the people http://riaus.org.au/
Science Direct: Full text database of journal articles and book chapters http://www.sciencedirect.com/
Science, physics, technology: http://phys.org/
Science news and blogs: http://scienceblogs.com/
LiveScience: Science articles and news http://www.livescience.com/
Australian Popular Science: http://www.popsci.com.au/
How stuff works: http://www.howstuffworks.com/
eBizMBA: This site has rankings for many subject areas, based on Alexa Global Traffic Rank + other ranking tools. Intriguing! Find the most popular music sites, gadget sites, health sites, reference sites, most popular blogs etc http://www.ebizmba.com/15 most popular science websites for Aug. 2013: http://www.ebizmba.com/articles/science-websites
Since it’s also the International Year of Statistics, here are some interesting sites with info about world stats that would be useful for social science classes. And without statistics, we would have to search the internet one page at a time! http://www.statistics2013.org/
Gapminder: for a fact-based world view
Stats, graphs, videos. Gapminder World shows the world’s most important trends.http://www.gapminder.org/
Search for many indicators on the Data page eg. poverty, marriage, democracy, drought, working hours etc Then visualise them in Gapminder World: http://www.gapminder.org/data/
Worldometers
Real time world stats – population, economics, environment, society and media, food, energy etc. Great site!http://www.worldometers.info/
NationMaster
Compares national statistics in graphical formats, using data from sources such as CIA World Factbook, UN, WHO, UNESCO, OECD etc Some of the data may be a bit dated but could be used as a starting point for more research. http://www.nationmaster.com/index.php
IDB: International Database World Statistics
Choose countries and various demographic reports. Compare figures from past years and into the future.http://www.census.gov/population/international/data/idb/informationGateway.php
World stats in many categories: A great list of sites.http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/doemoff/govinfo/intl/gov_intlstats.html
State of the climate in 2012
The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released their report on 6 August – an annual “checking on the pulse of the planet”.
http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/international/2013-08-07/climate-report-warns-extreme-weather-events-are-now-the-norm/1172262
The full report: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/bams-state-of-the-climate/2012.php
2 Aug 2013
The Maker movement
The Maker movement – a global cultural shift aimed at empowering more people to create things – the new industrial revolution?
Very interesting presentation by Gary Stager at the ISTE tech conference in San Antonio in June:
Gary Stager: the creative revolution you can’t afford to miss
Personal fabrication, tinkering, engineering and a maker culture are transforming and re-energising learning. He notes 3 game changers – fabrication (eg. 3D printing), physical computing and programming. If they start early, what could they achieve by year 12?TMI – think, make, improve. Make projects simple at first, then more complex. You need a good prompt, challenge or problem, appropriate materials and a supportive culture. Invent to learn! Do we always need to assess?
Sylvia’s Super-Awesome Maker Show – 11 year old Sylvia makes all kinds of things and gives video instructions. Stager has hired her in his program. http://sylviashow.com/
Look what Joey’s making – “don’t be bored…make something!” 15 year old Joey makes electronics kits and other inventions and even went to the White House with his marshmallow cannon. “Going to Maker Faires has changed my life”. http://lookwhatjoeysmaking.blogspot.com.au/
Stager’s book: Invent to learn: making, tinkering and engineering in the classroom, by Gary Stager and Sylvia Libow Martinez.
Maker movement inspires shift in school curriculum
There is now a shift in education from passive to active learning with inquiry and project-based learning in some curricula – particularly science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) Core Curriculum in the US eg. students develop real apps to market in app stores.“All innovations and innovation economies rely on this ability to solve a currently unsolved problem, but so much in education revolves around solving questions that already have known answers”. - Andrew Coy [[http://www.centerdigitaled.com/news/Maker-Movement-Inspires–Shift-in-STEM-Curriculum.html]]http://www.edutopia.org/blog/dive-into-the-maker-movement-adam-provost
What is the Maker movement and why should you care?
Maker movement — “an evolution of millions of people who are taking big risks to start their own small businesses dedicated to creating and selling self-made products”. Technology has made it easy for individuals to create unique items without manufacturers. The DIY movement has boomed – cooking, sewing, craft, robots, 3D printers, mechanics…Libraries and museums are being turned into “Makerspaces,” physical locations where people can come together to make: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/brit-morin/what-is-the-maker-movemen_b_3201977.htmlhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/larry-magid/maker-movement-taps-into_b_3588491.html
Short film (16 min.) - We are makers: http://www.core77.com/blog/exclusive/we_are_makers_documenting_a_burgeoning_movement_by_nathan_driskell_25244.asp
Maker Faire
These festivals are happening around the world (since 2006) – “a friendly festival of invention, creativity and resourcefulness, and a celebration of the Maker movement. Maker Faire is an all-ages gathering of tech enthusiasts, crafters, educators, tinkerers, hobbyists, engineers, science clubs, authors, artists, students, and commercial exhibitors. All of these ‘makers’ come to Maker Faire to show what they have made and to share what they have learned.” The 2013 Maker Faire in San Mateo, California had 150 000 attendees.http://makerfaire.com/makerfairehistory/
Associated magazine – MAKE and website with projects, videos, blog, forum. Intriguing! http://makezine.com/
The Maker movement is also catching on in Australia:Torque: revolving ideas
Canberra’s Maker culture delivers fortnightly seminars for students and others at Questacon Technology Learning Centre. Local artists, engineers, designers, scientists and other creative people discuss their hobbies, work and construction processes.http://questacon.edu.au/qtlc/whats-on-offer/community-activities
Adelaide has a Fab Lab, the first in Australia, where anyone can use the 3D printers, laser cutters etc. In April, they hosted the second Mini Maker Faire In Australia.www.manmonthly.com.au/features/the-maker-movement-catches-on-in-australia
At Dickson College, teachers Andrew Moss & Lex Warfield run the award-winning Unmanned Aerial Vehicle course, robotics and 3D printing for Years 11 and 12. The students (and Andrew & Lex) are creative and amazing! A new Engineering course starts in 2014.http://www.abc.net.au/local/videos/2012/02/07/3425159.htmhttp://sciencestage.com/v/60779/building-a-rescue-uav.html
And we are all good at making something…even if it’s just cupcakes!
14 June 2013
ICT news and ACARA: Technologies
State of the web report by Mary Meeker (from Internet Trends D11 conference- 28 May 2013)
Each year Meeker analyses the web and makes a detailed report. Fascinating info includes: Facebook leads social media, but YouTube, Twitter, Google +, Pinterest, Instagram are rising fast. Mobile traffic is growing sharply. Smartphone users reach for their phone 150 times per day. 17% of Australians say they share “everything” or “most things” online (world av. 24%). We are heading for a new computing cycle, following the rise of smartphones & tablets – wearable, drivable, flyable, scannable technology.
7 interesting graphs: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/30/internet-facts_n_3361077.html
Full report (117 slides!): http://au.businessinsider.com/mary-meekers-latest-masterful-presentation-on-the-state-of-the-web-2013-5#meeker-preso042-42
7 things you need to know about Apple iOS7
From this week’s Apple’s Worldwide Developer Conference. Tim Cook says it’s the biggest change to iOS since the iPhone. Cleaner icons & fonts; true multitasking; new camera app with filtering; male or female Siri (Siri soon to be integrated into cars); autodownloads of App Store updates; iTunes radio.
http://www.crn.com.au/News/346248,7-things-you-need-to-know-about-apple-ios7.aspx
Apple iTunes Radio
Announced this week and available later in the year in Aust. You can browse by popular tunes, by mood, feel or genre. Choose a station or set up your own. Also works with Apple TV.
Music streaming services in Australia
Excellent overview of all the music streaming choices in Aust. – from free Pandora (awesome) to Spotify, JB Hi-Fi Now, Samsung Music Hub, Songl, Rdio and more. Using these services is just like tuning in to a radio station – but one that you can program by artist, genre or mood. With free Pandora, you may never need to buy songs again!
http://www.cnet.com.au/australian-music-streaming-services-compared-339331668.htm
ACARA: technologies
Computer coding is a feature of the Draft Foundation to Year 10: Technologies curriculum. “The Draft Australian Curriculum: Technologies draws together the distinct but related subjects of Design and Technologies and Digital Technologies. It will ensure that all students benefit from learning about and working with traditional, contemporary and emerging technologies that shape the world in which we live. In creating solutions, as well as responding to the designed world, students will contribute to sustainable patterns of living for themselves and others.”
http://www.acara.edu.au/curriculum/technologies.html
Why programming is the core skill of the 21st century
It’s never been easier, more accessible or more essential to learn coding skills.
http://readwrite.com/2013/05/31/programming-core-skill-21st-century?utm_source=ReadWrite+Newsletters&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=6cba04fb0a-RWWDailyNewsletter&utm_term=0_9fbeb5d667-6cba04fb0a-201316605
Learn computerese as a second language
http://theconversation.com/learn-computerese-as-a-second-language-thats-code-for-code-14989
Codecademy
Online interactive platform that offers free coding classes in programming languages. Users get badges and scores for exercises.http://www.codecademy.com/
Code.org
Supports and promotes the learning of coding. Testimonials from Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, will.i.am, Ashton Kutcher…http://www.code.org/
Flickr
Yahoo, owner of Flickr, recently announced some updates. “Photos are now arranged in an attractive lattice design that is less cluttered with text and comments, and it has two killer features: photos can be stored as high-resolution images and are not cropped, and Flickr will offer one terabyte of free storage to every user: enough for more than 500,000 photos each, depending on resolution”.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/australian-it/personal-tech/yahoo-and-google-roll-out-new-features-amid-internet-battle/story-e6frgazf-1226648603388
Adobe CS6 last version before cloud and pay per user
Goodbye to Creative Suite (Photoshop etc) – it is now Creative Cloud and will involve buying monthly subscriptions. Not sure how this will work in schools.http://gizmodo.com/say-goodbye-to-creative-suite-adobe-rebrands-cs-as-cre-493155052
Apple Maps improves
Improvements have been added steadily with regular updates on iOS6. Apple Maps is nearly 5 times more data-efficient than Google Maps because it uses vector graphics, where no new data needs to be downloaded to zoom in on a map (1.3mb to download a Google map but only 300kb for an Apple map).
http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/smartphone-apps/apple-maps-back-on-track-20130529-2na51.html
Gmail tabs
Gmail is the world’s most popular email service. Google is cutting the clutter from Gmail inboxes with a new design that incorporates tabs. Important emails will go in the Primary tab – other tabs could include Social (Facebook notifications etc), Promotions (ads), Updates (bills, confirmations etc), Forums (messages from online groups). The use of the tabs is optional and you can choose which ones you want.
http://howto.cnet.com/8301-11310_39-57586732-285/getting-started-with-the-new-gmail-tabs/#!
SMH and The Age paywallsFrom 2 July, Fairfax Media will introduce a paywall and digital subscriptions for these 2 papers. Online readers will be allowed 30 free articles using web or mobile, before being asked to pay for a subscription. For tablets, some sections will be free and others will be for paying readers. So in July, all major Aust. papers will be charging for web, mobile & app access. “Digital subscribers will also have access to new features including research tool Zoom, specialist eBook collection Shortbooks and rewards program, My Benefits”.
http://www.bandt.com.au/news/media/fairfax-to-erect-paywall-in-july
7 June 2013
Good films and TV
David Gulpilil wins award
Last week Gulpilil, the acclaimed indigenous actor, dancer, singer & artist, won the Red Ochre Award for his contribution to Aboriginal arts at the Australia Council’s National Indigenous Arts Awards. His next film is Satellite boy, directed by indigenous filmmaker Catriona McKenzie, where he plays the grandfather of a boy whose home in an outdoor cinema is threatened with destruction by a mining company. “A beautiful & uplifting adventure. An inspiring, spirited portrait of cross-generational bonding and the intersection of ancient and modern Aboriginal culture.” (Toronto Int. Film Festival).http://www.creativespirits.info/resources/movies/satellite-boy
He will also star in the Rolf de Heer film Charlie’s country, which “explores how an Aboriginal person in the Top End, who comes from a traditional background, can live a good life, a proper life, in what is now Australia – the intervention and those things included. It’s the biggest role he has ever had and I think it’s his most extraordinary performance.” – Rolf de Heer.http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/actor-david-gulpilil-puts-50000-award-towards-a-new-life-in-the-bush/story-e6frfmq9-1226651597852
Vale Yunupingu of Yothu Yindi
A great and inspiring indigenous Australian – musician, educator and leader.http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-06-03/former-yothu-yindi-frontman-m-yunupingu-dies/4728518
The secret river
The ABC is developing a mini-series of the acclaimed novel by Kate Grenville that dramatizes the lives of a convict family who come to NSW and become involved in the escalating conflict between white settlers and indigenous inhabitants. Screenwriter – Jan Sardi (Shine). The Sydney Theatre Company’s stage adaptation was highly acclaimed in January.http://about.abc.net.au/press-releases/abc-to-adapt-award-winning-novel-the-secret-river/
ANZAC girls
6 part mini-series based on the true stories of ANZAC nurses. Based on the book The other ANZACs by Peter Rees and sourced from letters, diaries and personal stories, the series will probably screen at the time of the centenary of Gallipoli in April 2015. Acclaimed screenwriter Felicity Packard (an ex student of our college) is co-writer. Should be excellent and informative!http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2012/10/anzac-girls-miniseries-for-abc1.html
The feed
A new, interesting and useful resource aimed at 16–39 year olds (SBS2 7.30pm M-F). A 15 minute news, culture & technology show with edgy, adventurous and fun items aimed at younger people. Would appeal to high school students in various classes – social sciences, global relations, geography, media, popular culture, sociology… Various segments also appear online and can be shared in various ways. The feed will also present 60 second news breaks on SBS2 and in social media. Recent segments include: Review of Google Glass; How PNG handles the death penalty; Where’s my hoverboard? The new-look SBS2, launched in April, is targeting “thinking 20 and 30 somethings”.
http://www.sbs.com.au/thefeed/http://www.bandt.com.au/news/media/sbs2-targets-16-39-year-olds-with-news-show
The truth is?
This new 3 part program (Ch. 10 Mon 8.30pm) follows award-winning young journalist Hamish Macdonald on interesting foreign assignments where he aims to show the real human experiences of a foreign correspondent researching big issues of our time. Would definitely appeal to high school social science, global relations, geography, media and journalism classes. This week presented stories about families living illegally near the Chernobyl nuclear reactor and PTSD in returned American soldiers. Hopefully more episodes will be made. http://ten.com.au/tvshows/thetruthis-about.htm
Much ado about nothing
A black & white contemporary adaptation of the play by Shakespeare directed by Joss Whedon (Buffy; The Avengers).The biting romantic comedy retains the 16th century language and was filmed in 12 days at his house! Opens 11 July.
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-ca-much-ado-house-20130602,0,6525775.story
Elysium
Written and directed by Neill Blomkamp (who created the awesome District 9). Stars Matt Damon and Jodi Foster. In 2154, the very wealthy live in a luxurious space habitat named Elysium that orbits Earth. The rest live on an over-populated, ruined Earth. They are desperate to escape crime and poverty and need the health care of Elysium, but those in Elysium enforce anti-immigration laws and try to preserve their luxurious lifestyles. An ordinary man (Damon) goes on a dangerous mission that could bring about equality and finds himself up against the ruthless Elysium leader and her forces (Foster). Themes: immigration, human rights, equity, class. Sounds great for sci fi, sociology, human rights…Opens 15 August.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1535108/
The internship
Comedy. Tagline: Hiring them was a brilliant mistake. Stars Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson as 40 year olds who land summer internships at Google. Even Larry Page has lauded the film. Some say it is really just an ad for Google – the perfect place to work and a company that does wonders for the world. Hehe the Google Help Line.
http://readwrite.com/2013/06/01/why-i-wish-the-new-google-internship-movie-was-actually-true?utm_source=ReadWrite+Newsletters&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=fb61405165-RWWDailyNewsletter&utm_term=0_9fbeb5d667-fb61405165-201316605
Matt Smith is leaving Dr Who!
Despite denying it – yes – after the 50th Anniversary show in Nov and then regenerating in the Xmas Special.
http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2013/06/matt-smith-to-leave-doctor-who.html
Maxwell’s Collection closed
Sad to see that Maxwell’s Collection, the education video supplier in Sydney, has closed after 25 years. It was a good source for programs for many years. Perhaps competition from online sources and JB Hi Fi was too strong.
Just for fun: The 10 most liked and disliked Aust. celebrities
From Encore Magazine. And why wouldn’t Hugh Jackman win?
http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2012/06/hugh-jackman-our-favourite-celeb-kyle-most-disliked.html
Can’t wait to see Gatsby this weekend – it had the biggest opening weekend of any Aust. film. Sorry to have missed the recent Aust. drama production of A clockwork orange. Our Year 11 & 12 psychology students saw it and said it was amazing.
http://www.clockworkorange.com.au/about.html
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/the-great-gatsby-secures-nations-biggest-opening-weekend-for-an-aussie-film/story-e6frg6n6-1226656570160
27 May 2013
National Reconciliation Week 27 May - 3 June
“The dates commemorate two significant milestones in the reconciliation journey of Aboriginal Australians - the anniversaries of the successful 1967 referendum and the High Court Mabo decision.
May 27 marks the anniversary of Australia’s most successful referendum and a defining event in our nation’s history. The 1967 referendum saw over 90 per cent of Australians vote to give the Commonwealth the power to make laws for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and recognise them in the national census.
On 3 June, 1992, the High Court of Australia delivered its landmark Mabo decision which legally recognised that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have a special relationship to the land—that existed prior to colonalisation and still exists today. This recognition paved the way for land rights called Native Title. 2012 marked the 20th anniversary of the Mabo decision.
The week is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures and achievements and to explore how each of us can join the national reconciliation effort.” http://www.reconciliation.org.au/
Resources and fact sheets: http://www.reconciliation.org.au/home/resources
Recognise (part of Reconciliation Australia) – the people’s movement to recognise Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander peoples in our Constitution. “We want to see fairness and respect at the heart of our Constitution, and to remove discrimination from it. Our goal is a more united nation. This is a chance for Australia to acknowledge the first chapter of our national story, and to forge our future together - after so many chapters apart.”
News & info: http://www.recognise.org.au/
Share our pride (part of Reconciliation Aust.)
Resources section: info on famous indigenous Austns; books & articles; films.
Learn section: culture; shared history; beyond the myths; respectful relationships.
http://shareourpride.org.au/
NAIDOC Week 7 – 14 July
http://www.naidoc.org.au/
This year’s theme: We value the vision: Yirrkala Bark Petitions 1963. This year is the 50th anniversary of the presentation of the bark petitions to Parliament, protesting mining rights on Yolngu land & seeking recognition of Yolngu land ownership.
http://www.naidoc.org.au/celebrating-naidoc-week/2013-national-naidoc-week-theme/
24 May 2013
Film and TV news
Some great shows coming up on ABC:
Whitlam: the power & the passion – Documentary; 26 May & 2 June 7.30pm.
Cliffy – 26 May 8.30pm. Stars Kevin Harrington as Cliff Young the potato farmer who won the Sydney to Melbourne ultramarathon in 1983.
Paper giants: magazine wars – 2 June & 9 June. Stars Rachel Griffiths as Dulcie Boling, editor of New Idea magazine, and Mandy McElhinney as Nene King, editor of Woman’s Day. The rival Murdoch & Packer empires battle it out for magazine supremacy in the 80s & 90s. The soundtrack will be great!
Q & A with Bill Gates
A very interesting Q & A this week from the Sydney Writer’s Festival…and next week a special Q & A with Bill Gates (ABC Tues 8.30pm). Bill Gates, once again the world’s richest man, Microsoft founder and co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, will answer questions from an audience at the University of NSW, with discussion on investment in global health & development. Gates is “a true global leader and champion for the betterment of society by tackling global health issues” – David Gonski. Gates will also meet with Julia Gillard for discussions on overseas aid.
http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/bill-gates-to-front-qa-debate-on-health-20130517-2jrh1.html
The primary aims of the Gates Foundation are, globally, to enhance healthcare and reduce extreme poverty, and in America, to expand educational opportunities and access to information technology. As of May 16, 2013, Bill Gates had donated US$28 billion to the foundation (Bloomberg report). http://www.gatesfoundation.org/
http://www.abc.net.au/tv/guide/abc1/201305/programs/FA1207H044D2013-05-28T203300.htm
The great Gatsby opens in Aust. 30 May
The reviews might be mixed but the international audiences are loving it – Gatsby is currently top at the international box office. Go Baz!
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/entertainment/great-gatsby-gamble-pays-off-for-aussie-director-baz-luhrmann/story-fni0b7je-1226647712168
Can’t wait to hear the soundtrack! “… this musical roller coaster mixes electronica, hip-hop and rock with jazz-age sounds into a breathy, sexy, dangerous, electric result.” — The Washington Post. The album was produced by Baz Luhrmann and features original new music from artists that span several genres, including Florence + the Machine, The xx, Gotye, Sia, Jack White, U2, Beyoncé, will.i.am, Fergie, and Jay Z. Lana Del Rey’s Young & beautiful is a musical motif repeated throughout the film. Bryan Ferry & his orchestra do Love is the drug 1920s style….go Bryan!
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/great-gatsby-soundtrack-track-by-track-521092
Great interview with Baz by Leigh Sales (8 min.). Luhrmann reflects on the critics, risk-taking, how Australia treats celebrities, and the temptation to simply retire.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-05-21/baz-luhrmann-on-retirements-temptations-and/4704610
Looking forward to the stage musical of Baz’s Strictly Ballroom which will launch in 2014!
Blue Man Group
This innovative, entertaining performance troupe will do shows in Sydney in August. The 3 blue men explore our world with a sense of wonder. There’s comedy, experimental music, great percussion & multimedia – but no singing or talking. The show is just awesome and would be great for students from upper primary to senior high – including drama, dance & music students. Themes include science & technology, art, connection to others, information overload, innocence, the outsider, following your bliss. I saw this show in Vegas and loved it and I’m going again!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KR3ZcTbPJU&list=PL7F877C0E7333F448&index=1
http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/theatre/blue-men-are-red-hot-when-it-comes-to-theatre-of-paint-and-ponchos-20130429-2inlq.html
Redfern now: series 2
The acclaimed first series won the Most outstanding drama award at the Logies. Series 2 will star Ernie Dingo, Aaron Pedersen, Steve Bisley & Craig McLachlan. Some season 1 characters will return – including Wayne Blair, Deborah Mailman, Leah Purcell. The 6 episodes will again feature “powerful, heartbreaking & uplifting stories”. Filming has just begun. http://about.abc.net.au/press-releases/redfern-now-season-2-goes-into-production/
Man of steel
A reboot of the Superman series. The film reveals a darker, troubled Clark Kent, who feels alienated because of his special powers and struggles to find his place in life. Directed by Zac Snyder; stars Henry Cavill. Russell Crowe plays Jor-El, Superman’s biological father and a leading scientist on planet Krypton before its destruction. Trailers and SFX look impressive! Opens 27 June.http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0770828/
Macbeth
A new film adaptation is being made, starring Michael Fassbender as Macbeth and Natalie Portman as Lady Macbeth. Australia’s Justin Kurzel (Snowtown) will direct. The film will be set in the 11th century and use Shakespearean language. It will have significant battle scenes. The role of damn Spot is yet to be announced.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-22354265
The mortal instruments: city of bones
Based on the bestselling young adult urban fantasy book series by Cassandra Clare. Directed by Harald Zwart. Stars Lily Collins (son of Phil) as Clary Fray – the chosen one who battles evil forces in the New York underworld in order to save her mother. Jonathan Rhys Meyers is the evil Destroyer. The second film will be City of ashes. The franchise could be as popular as The Hunger Games & Twilight films. Opens 22 August.
http://www.examiner.com/article/the-mortal-instruments-city-of-ashes-gets-2014-worldwide-distribution
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1538403/
And if you haven’t seen Robert Downey Jr and his ironic Iron Man 3 yet…go see it! Good script, big SFX, we see Iron Man struggle with anxiety. And Ben Kingsley as The Mandarin and Guy Pearce as the baddie. As good as The Avengers : ) Very entertaining!
17 May 2013
BYOD, NBN and Google
BYOD
Whether it’s BYOD or BYOT or just BYOS (stuff), more schools are enabling students to connect to their wifi networks with their own devices. We have noticed a big increase in the last year and we endeavour to connect any device brought in by a student. Students use a short printed guide to connect PC laptops and the IT officer connects Mac laptops & Android phones. In the library, teacher librarians connect iDevices. It all seems to be going well, judging by what we can see when we look around the library – a great variety of devices successfully working, helping students with their ICT needs and hopefully supporting their learning! We will assess the need for more wifi points as needed (and more powerpoints for recharging). Students still like to borrow the 25 library netbooks so they can sit where they want in the library and we also have desktops.An interesting article on BYOD at The Southport School, Qld. More money has been put into infrastructure to support BYOD. MacBooks & iPads are the most popular.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/australian-it/it-business/schools-make-a-move-to-byod/story-e6frganx-1226636277661
NBN
In a recent study of several schools now connected to the NBN, it has proved to be very worthwhile. A 3 month study of 60 teachers at PLC Armidale (NSW) and Willunga HS (S.A.) found that 82% of teachers said student learning experiences would be increased. 96% said the NBN will allow students to achieve more and increase teachers’ PD & learning. At Willunga HS, C-grade students were now getting A-grades and there was better learning for special needs students. PLC said the school was moving to a more autonomous learning style. “Online collaborative learning supported by fast, ubiquitous broadband is motivating children to become even more engaged & successful in the subjects they learn”. – R. Olsen.(Maiolo, A. 2013, ‘NBN shows its worth’, Education Review, issue 1.)
In a project involving ABC Splash, AARNet & the NBN, primary students filmed their own local news stories about sustainability, which were broadcast live at ACMI in Melbourne.
http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/457300/aarnet_nbn_connect_primary_school_students/
A tale of 2 NBNs – Fibre to the Home (expensive & lengthy to set up but fast & less maintenance) or Fibre to the Node (cheaper & quicker to set up but more maintenance, still uses copper wiring and not as fast):
http://theconversation.com/a-tale-of-two-nbns-the-coalitions-broadband-policy-explained-13304
Google I/O Developer Conference
Held in San Francisco this week….I/O means input/output….yeah I googled it.Google users now get a combined 15GB of free storage for Google Drive, Gmail & Google+. New developments at Google include:
Google Maps: Bigger & clearer labels (like Apple Maps); 3D buildings included (previously only in Google Earth – they appear to be combining Earth & Maps products); more personalized info in maps; zoom out & see the Earth in space in real time; compare transportation modes; see multiple routes at the same time.
Google conversational voice search: “OK Google…when does my flight leave?”. Google responds with voice & also gives text search results.
Education: New services on Android tablet platform to rival the success of the iPad in schools.
Payments via Gmail: Users will be able to send money to other users by clicking on a $ sign in Gmail.
Google Play Music All Access: Very clunky name. Google’s new music streaming service – millions of songs for $10/month; create your playlists of artist, songs or genre. Not in Aust. yet.
Plus there are lots of photo tool improvements in Google+, such as automatic photo enhancement.
http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/digital-life-news/google-ditches-gimmicks-launches-own-music-streaming-service-20130516-2jnfw.html
What’s new & when we Australia will see it: http://www.lifehacker.com.au/2013/05/google-io-roundup-whats-new-and-when-australia-will-see-it/
7 new things from Google: http://reviews.cnet.com/2300-3513_7-10016856.html
How Google gets all that Street View data for Google Maps
Fascinating photos of the devices used by Google – from the Street View car to the snowmobile!
http://news.cnet.com/2300-1023_3-10016855.html#2300-1023_3-10016855-1.html?&_suid=136876413343309348925037214546
9 May 2013
Wikispaces Classroom
Many schools have learning management systems & social learning platforms – both commercial and free. Edmodo has proved popular at our school, due to its ease of use (often thought of as “Facebook for schools”). Some teachers use it ahead of the departmentally supplied LMS. http://www.edmodo.com/
Wikispaces recently announced its new free platform for education: Wikispaces Classroom.“Wikispaces Classroom is a social writing platform for education. We make it incredibly easy to create a classroom workspace where you and your students can communicate and work on writing projects alone or in teams. Rich assessment tools give you the power to measure student contribution and engagement in real-time. Wikispaces Classroom works great on modern browsers, tablets, and phones”. It also incorporates a social news feed feature so that teachers and students can see what is happening in the learning space. http://www.wikispaces.com/content/classroom/about
See examples: http://blog.wikispaces.com/2013/04/announcing-wikispaces-classroom.html
How to – videos: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hS8iJYnFFE
Google Glass
Lots of tech people have recently trialled Google Glass, which won’t be generally available till next year. Apps (which must be free with no ads) are currently being developed by various companies to make Google Glass an intriguing & useful item of wearable technology.
Google Glass eyewear is a small glass screen above the right eye and a right arm that contains a trackpad that you can tap. It has 16GB of storage, Bluetooth & a 5MB camera. Bone audio technology allows the wearer to hear audio with no headphones (soundwaves go through cheekbones into the inner ear). You can give voice commands eg. “OK, Glass, take a picture” or use the trackpad. You can view emails etc in front of your eyes on the screen or ask for directions. You wake the glasses up by tilting your head upwards. Apparently the screen doesn’t obscure the line of vision. But there are privacy issues – people may not know they are being filmed or spied on! Cost $1500 – that will reduce. Don’t get ready to barcode a class set for the library just yet!
Excellent 3 min. video: http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/google-glass-googles-wearable-gadget/story?id=19091948
Physics teacher uses Google Glass to take his online students on a virtual excursion to the Large Hadron Collider in Switzerland: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRrdeFh5-io
YouTube to launch paid subscription channels
Free-to-air TV and the main channels are certainly facing more competition each year from online video sources & IPTV (Internet Protocol Television), both free & subscription. Netflix will probably be here within 2 years. YouTube will soon offer some paid premium content – users will be able to subscribe to 50 exclusive channels that will have TV shows & films.
http://www.digital-media.net.au/news/digital/youtube-to-launch-paid-subscription-channelshttp://www.iptv.com.au/how-to-get-iptv/
YouTube vs TV? The battle is already over
YouTube: 1 billion unique visitors each month. YouTube means more engagement than TV – it is the future. http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/digital-living/8625482/YouTube-says-battle-with-TV-is-already-over
10 top time-saving tech tips
10 simple tips for computer, web, smartphone and camera users: http://www.ted.com/talks/david_pogue_10_top_time_saving_tech_tips.html
30 April 2013
Webby Awards announced
Some good resources for media, art, photography, graphic design, popular culture, business studies, social sciences….
The 17th annual Webby AwardsThe Oscars of the online world were announced on Tuesday. Awards are chosen by the International Academy of Digital Arts & Sciences. Categories include web, online film & video, interactive advertising & media, mobile & apps and social. Look through previous winners, back to 1997, and see how the online world has changed!http://winners.webbyawards.com/
Dumb ways to die
An Aussie success – catchy, quirky, amiable animated characters – with an important message. Melbourne’s Metro Trains’ rail safety public service campaign has won 7 Webby Awards, including - Best Viral Online Film & Video (over 45 million YouTube views); Best Animation Film & Video; Best Viral Marketing Interactive Advertising & Media; Best Public Service & Activism (Social Content & Marketing). HEAPS of online parodies. Karaoke version also available.
Original video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJNR2EpS0jw
Interview: http://www.theage.com.au/technology/technology-news/melbourne-rail-safety-message-wins-webby-20130501-2isyl.html
Some Webby winners….and there are LOTS more..….
Special Achievement: Jerry Seinfeld, including his 10 episode web series Comedians in cars getting coffee – Seinfeld hanging out with his comedian friends.
Activism: Change.org – the world’s petition platform.
Best Practices: TEDEd: lessons worth sharing.
Best Use of Photography: Humans of New York.
Education: TEDEd.Games: Angry Birds Star Wars.
Green: TERRA: the nature of our world.
Health: WebMD.
Movie & Film: Hunger Games: Capitol tour.
Music: VEVO.
Web Services: Dropbox.
Weird: One tiny hand.
Technology: The Engadget Show.
Variety: TED.
Augmented Reality: Band-Aid Magic Vision….wow…cool Band-Aids!
Online commercials: Hashtag Killer (aims to eradicate the #FirstWorldProblems meme).
Experimental & Innovation: The Silent History: a new kind of novel.
12 April 2013
MOOCs
Thinking about MOOCs – Massive Open Online Courses. India is the second largest consumer of MOOCs after the US. In February, ANU joined edX (founded in May 2012 by MIT & Harvard), the only Australian university so far. Courses start in 2014 (Astrophysics by Nobel Laureate Brian Schmidt and Engaging India by McComas Taylor). Schmidt also believes ANUx could help high school students who may not have had access to highly qualified teachers in some subject areas, due to shortages.http://news.anu.edu.au/2013/02/21/anu-joins-edx-online-education-revolution/
The US Dept of Education meta-analysis of 46 studies in online learning (mostly in higher education), showed that the most powerful learning outcomes resulted from blended learning – a combination of face-to-face with online learning.http://www2.ed.gov/rschstat/eval/tech/evidence-based-practices/finalreport.pdf
Public good or playing markets? The real reason for MOOCs – Prof. Thomas Clarke, UTS.
Interesting article. Enrolment figures are highly speculative, with high reported drop-out rates (up to 90%). Are they committed to providing mass education as a public good or are they more interested in global domination of education markets? Will they start out free and end up with advertisements and fees? Even with the availability of MOOCs, ”universities are gradually morphing into mass online campuses in their own right, though maintaining the wonder of face to face encounters, and retaining a role for the most flexible, interactive, intelligent and responsive pedagogic technology of all – the teacher in the classroom”. Nice quote.http://theconversation.com/public-good-or-playing-markets-the-real-reason-for-moocs-13055
What college students really think about online courses
A US study of college students shows that students want to be involved in the online learning conversation – blended learning models are valued rather than everything being online. They want courses that match their learning style and technology integration that improves learning.http://www.centerdigitaled.com/news/College-Students-Online-Courses.html
Why we should never return to the 3 Rs – Stewart Riddle, USQ.
Some politicians are calling for more didactic teaching methods and the traditional curriculum. But – “the 3 Rs will not help young people to use computers efficiently, search the internet and access electronic texts for information and then have effective tools to analyse, critique and synthesise that information…..(one for the TLs!). On the question of prizing knowledge over skills, one only has to consider the information processing power of the humble smart phone sitting in our pockets or bags, which contains the capacity to access more information than we could ever hope to store in our memory by rote learning, to see the pointlessness in such a cause”. http://theconversation.com/why-we-should-never-return-to-the-three-rs-13179
The iPhone killed my creativity – Brian Hall.
Yes it’s true! With smartphones we are never bored, sitting around with nothing to do. And our creativity suffers – we need to be bored to allow our minds to drift & wander, to have the time and space to think about things. Using all the fun stuff on our smartphones is also lowering impulse buys at the checkout!http://readwrite.com/2013/03/29/the-iphone-killed-my-creativity
10 April 2013
The upcoming Webby Awards
"Hailed as the 'Internet's highest honor' by The New York Times, The Webby Awards is the leading international award honoring excellence on the Internet, presented by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences. Awards are given to Websites, Interactive Advertising & Media, Online Film & Video, Mobile & Apps, and Social. This year's Webby Awards received more than 11,000 entries from over 65 countries. The shortlist has now been announced.
Winners will be announced 1 May & the awards ceremony is on 22 May in New York, where winners will deliver five-word speeches in the tradition of past victors like Al Gore ("Please don't recount this vote."), Jimmy Fallon ("Thank God Conan got promoted") and Anna Wintour ("Sometimes, geeks can be chic").
While Academy members like Arianna Huffington, Instagram founder Kevin Systrom and musician David Bowie select the Webby winners, people can also vote in The Webby People's Voice Awards. Many of this year's nominees reflect the ever-growing role social experiences play in helping consumers discover new content, videos, communities and brands. Others succeed by confirming the significant effect of mobile and tablet devices".
http://www.webbyawards.com/
Info and nominees: http://www.webbyawards.com/press/press-release.php?id=238
Nominees for Best Education and Discovery
· TED
· National Geographic Education
· NASA Curiosity Mars Rover
· Medium
· New York Public Library
The Gallery & Archive is an interesting snapshot of how the web has changed since 1996 – good for graphic design, IT, sociology, media…
http://winners.webbyawards.com/
28 March 2013
Indie Awards 2013
Last week the winner of the Indie Book of the Year Award was announced: The light between oceans by M.L. Stedman. Other category winners: http://www.indies.com.au/BookAwards.aspx
Looking forward to reading the YA winner - Sea hearts by Margo Lanagan, an amazing writer.
Shortlist: http://www.indies.com.au/IndieAward.aspx
I like this website. It always has interesting info. Just noticed I am currently reading #4 in the Indie Top 10 Bestsellers - Gone girl by Gillian Flynn. It is awesome! An unputdownable, intriguing psychological thriller that I blame for too many late nights!! It was highly recommended to me and I can pass that recommendation on. It's her 3rd novel...will definitely be reading the others! We have purchased a copy for our library – it is fine for senior students, no more gruesome or explicit than the Girl with the dragon tattoo (which is studied as a text here).
http://www.amazon.com/Gone-Girl-Novel-Gillian-Flynn/dp/030758836X
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8442457-gone-girl
Yay….a film adaptation! "American actress Reese Witherspoon's film production company and 20th Century Fox own the screen rights to Gone Girl for which they paid $1.5 million US dollars. The novel's author Gillian Flynn has been engaged to write the screenplay. Witherspoon was drawn to the script because of its strong female character and its use of multiple perspectives and non-linear structure. She will produce, but not star in the film". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gone_Girl_(novel)
The book thief
The film of the acclaimed novel by Marcus Zusak, that spent 230 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list, has begun shooting in Germany. Director: Brian Percival (Downton Abbey). Stars Geoffrey Rush and Emily Watson as the foster parents of Liesel, the book thief. I thought Rush would have been perfect as Death, the narrator!
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/book-thief-begins-shooting-germany-427216
The secret garden
A new adaptation of the novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett is being developed – to be set in southern USA at the turn of the century. Guillermo del Toro will be producer but not director.
http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=36405
Doctor Who: 50th anniversary 3D special
Screens in Nov 2013. An extended episode written by Steven Moffatt - Matt Smith describes it as “epic” and “hilarious”! And maybe something to do with paintings. The new series of Doctor Who begins 31 March ABC1 – River Song will appear, there will be more answers about the Doctor’s future & the truth about the identity of his new companion Clara.
http://www.digitalspy.com.au/british-tv/s7/doctor-who/news/a466387/doctor-who-50th-special-is-epic-hilarious-says-matt-smith.html
http://www.digitalspy.com.au/british-tv/s7/doctor-who/news/a466316/doctor-who-steven-moffat-teases-river-song-return.html
Kickstarter and Veronica Mars
Another example of the power of social media: the crowdfunding website Kickstarter has raised enough funds for a film version of the Veronica Mars cult TV series. More than 30 000 fans pledged $2 million in one day (now over $3.8 million), the biggest film campaign ever on Kickstarter - which funds films, dance, comics, art, design, fashion, technology, music…
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-veronica-mars-kickstarter-20130315,0,5476074.story
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/559914737/the-veronica-mars-movie-project
Australian crowdfunding site - some interesting creative projects: http://www.pozible.com/
Or maybe you prefer Brad Pitt and zombies....
Possibly the biggest zombie movie ever. Based on the bestselling novel World War Z: an oral history of the zombie war by Max Brooks (son of Mel). Directed by Marc Forster (The kite runner; Stranger than fiction; Quantum of solace). A United Nations employee traverses the world in a race against time to stop the zombie pandemic that threatens to decimate humanity. Brad plays the UN guy , not a zombie.
http://movies.yahoo.com/blogs/movie-talk/world-war-z-biggest-zombie-movie-ever-161702999.html
Fun stuff
You might have seen this short video doing the rounds recently.....iPads vs paper. Long live paper!
http://vimeo.com/61275290
8 March 2013
Book sales and self-publishing
Interesting to see that the number and value of books sold in Aust. in 2012 decreased (56.6 million sold - a fall of 6.3% from 2011). The top 6 bestsellers were the Fifty shades series and The Hunger Games series. Without the Fifty shades series, the decrease would have been 11.2%. However, Dymocks stated that their 74 shops sold 500 000 more books than previous years - but the average price was down from $23 to $15.60. They noted that the tablet and e-reader have taken over. (Steger, J. 2013, 'Readers hunger for two trilogies", SMH, 5-6 Jan, p. 6.).
In the US, many writers are now turning their backs on traditional publishing and each week self-published authors make the ebook bestseller lists, as well as lists by the New York Times, Wall St Journal, USA Today etc. A year ago this was rare.
Self-publishing platforms include:
CreateSpace (Amazon offshoot)
https://www.createspace.com/
Smashwords
http://www.smashwords.com/
Bookpal (Aust. company begun 2002)
http://www.bookpal.com.au/
http://blog.smashwords.com/2012/12/mark-cokers-2013-book-publishing.html
Some good books that started as self-published books:
Wool by Hugh Howey
In a dystopian future, a community exists in an underground silo. Their lives are full of rules and regulations, secrets and lies. The dangerous ones are those that hope and dream - their punishment is being allowed outside.
This post-apocalyptic sci-fi bestseller began in 2011 as a "self-pubbed" digital "novelette" that grew into a novel after thousands of online rave reviews. Howey finally agreed to sell the print rights in Dec. 2012 whilst retaining electronic rights and profits - a first in the industry. The print version hits US bookstores 12 March. Available as 8 books & omnibus. Film rights have been sold to Ridley Scott. Howey's Molly Fyde series also sounds good for young adult sci-fi fans.
Wool series: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wool_(series)
Book review: http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/reviews/review-wool-by-hugh-howey-8458669.html
http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/books/2013/03/hugh_howey_and_wool_how_the_self_pubbed_sci_fi_writer_relates_to_fans.html
http://www.hughhowey.com/
Amanda Hocking
US writer of paranormal romance young adult fiction. In April 2010 Hocking self-published 9 novels as ebooks. By March 2011 she had sold over 1 million copies and earned $2 million in sales - previously unheard of for self-published authors. In March 2011 she signed a $2 million publishing contract for 4 print books in the Watersong paranormal series. Other series: My blood approves (vampire romance); Trylle trilogy (urban fantasy); Hollowland (zombie fiction).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amanda_Hocking
http://amandahocking.blogspot.com.au/
24 Feb 2013
Some excellent upcoming films!
It's time for the Oscars! Some good films nominated that tie in with curriculum areas – Life of Pi (novels, philosophy, psychology – just wonderful); Argo (history; global relations); Silver linings playbook (psychology, mental health – really good film); Zero dark thirty (global relations, psychology, crime & deviance, history); Lincoln (history); Les mis (history, novels, great songs). Good luck Hugh Jackman and Jacki Weaver!
http://oscar.go.com/nominees/
Interesting: http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2013/feb/21/oscars-2013-what-nominations-say-about-america
All the awards through the years - Oscars, Globes, SAGs, BAFTAs etc - IMDB is certainly an excellent site!
http://www.imdb.com/oscars/nominations/?ref_=rto_nb_acd
Other upcoming films to look forward to - good for courses in sci-fi, fantasy, fiction to film, media, popular culture...rather a long list...sorry - film fever!
Star Wars: episode VII
3 new Star Wars films are coming & 2 peripheral movies (since George Lucas sold Lucasfilm to the Walt Disney Co last year). The first will be Star Wars: episode VII - directed by J. J. Abrams (Star trek 2009, Super 8, Lost - TV series). To be released 2015. Some (including William Shatner) feel that Abrams should not be directing 2 of the biggest franchises – Star wars AND Star trek!
http://starwars.com/news/star-wars-is-being-kick-started-with-dynamite-jj-abrams-to-direct-star-wars-episode-vii.html
Star trek: into darkness
Director: J.J.Abrams. Follow-on from Star trek (2009). Opens May 2013. Stars Chris Pine as a young Kirk and Benedict Cumberbatch as villain John Harrison…aww Sherlock! “After the crew of the Enterprise find an unstoppable force of terror from within their own organization, Captain Kirk leads a manhunt to a war-zone world to capture a one man weapon of mass destruction”.
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WzJXmY2xrg
Beautiful creatures
Now showing. Based on the well-regarded young adult Gothic romance novel by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl, their debut novel. Directed by Richard LaGravenese. Stars Alice Englert (daughter of Jane Campion), Emma Thompson, Jeremy Irons. Not Bella and Edward this time, but Lena and Ethan. A young man in a small Southern town falls for troubled new girl Lena - a witch who will be claimed for the light or dark on her 16th birthday. Apparently much better than the Twilight series!
Movie info: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1559547/
Movie review: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/entertainment/movies/movie-review-beautiful-creatures/story-e6frf9h6-1226582786824
Book info: http://www.amazon.com/Beautiful-Creatures-Kami-Garcia/dp/0316231673
Oz the great and powerful
Previews look excellent! Prequel to the Wizard of Oz. Directed by Sam Raimi (Spider-Man). Stars James Franco, Mila Kunis (Wicked Witch of the West) and Michelle Williams (Glinda). Opens 7 March 2013. A small-time unethical magician lands in Oz and is drawn into the problems facing the inhabitants, where he must find out who is good and evil in order to redeem himself.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1NGnVLDPog
Great expectations
Based on Dickens’ novel about the orphan who becomes a gentleman with the help of an unknown benefactor. Directed by Mike Newel. Stars Jeremy Irvine as Pip, Ralph Fiennes as Magwitch and Helena Bonham Carter as Miss Havisham. Opens 7 March 2013.
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/toronto-film-festival-great-expectations-review-helena-bonham-carter-369565
Jack the giant slayer
Directed by Bryan Singer. Stars Nicholas Hoult (the cute kid from About a boy), Stanley Tucci, Ewan McGregor. Opens 21 March. A young farmhand fighting for a kingdom and the love of a princess, opens a gateway between the world of humans and a race of giants, thus reigniting an ancient war.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1351685/
Warm bodies
A paranormal romantic zombie comedy based on the novel by Isaac Marion; directed by Jonathan Levine. Stars Nicholas Hoult (yes the cute kid from About a boy). The film is told from the zombie’s perspective – “R” falls in love with Julie, a living human and love helps him develop some human characteristics again. Extensive voice-overs are used, as zombies have trouble speaking. Opens 11 April.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1588173/
JOBS
The Steve Jobs biopic recently screened at the Sundance Film Festival, to mixed reviews. Stars Ashton Kutcher as Jobs and Josh Gad as Steve Wozniak. Directed by Joshua Stern. Opens here June 2013. The film focuses on Job’s life from when he dropped out of college to when the first iPod came out in 2001. They even filmed in the Silicon Valley garage where the first Apple computer was created. Sony Pictures is also planning a separate Jobs biopic, based on Walter Isaacson’s bestselling biography and to be written by Aaron Sorkin (The social network).
http://www.theage.com.au/technology/technology-news/ashton-kutcher-talks-steve-jobs-tech-and-fruitarian-diets-20130201-2doi0.html
http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/movies/great-jobs-kutcher-praised-for-biopic-20121205-2avb6.html
The Fifth Estate
Benedict Cumberbatch stars as Julian Assange in the drama depicting the early days of WikiLeaks. He looks different with that hair!
Directed by Bill Condon, who explores “the complexities and challenges of transparency in the information age”. Opens late 2013.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/film-news/9821056/Benedict-Cumberbatch-as-Julian-Assange-in-The-Fifth-Estate-first-look.html
Assange accuses the film of being a “massive propaganda attack”: http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2013/jan/24/julian-assange-attacks-wikileaks-film
The mortal instruments: City of bones
Based on the popular urban fantasy book series by Cassandra Clare. Stars Lily Collins. Opens here Aug 2013. When her mother is taken by a demon in New York, a teenage girl finds out truths about her past and bloodline that changes her entire life.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1538403/
Ender's game
Based on the acclaimed sci-fi novels Ender's game & Ender's shadow by Orson Scott Card. Directed by Gavin Hood. Stars Asa Butterfield, Harrison Ford, Ben Kingsley, Abigail Breslin. Andrew "Ender" Wiggin, an unusually gifted child, is sent to an advanced military school in space to prepare for a future alien invasion. There he is honed into an empathetic killer who begins to despise himself as he learns to fight in order to save Earth and his family. Opens late 2013.http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1731141/
Hunger Games 2 : Catching fire
Katniss and Peeta head back into the Games in Nov 2013.
The graveyard book
Neil Gaiman’s acclaimed 2008 children’s book will be filmed as a live-action movie (instead of animated), directed by Ron Howard. The book is the only title to ever win both the Carnegie and Newbery Medals for Best Children’s Book. Young Nobody Owens is raised by ghosts in a cemetery after his family is murdered. As a teen, he is pursued again by the murderer.
http://www.movies.com/movie-news/ron-howard-set-to-resurrect-neil-gaimans-the-graveyard-book/11023
20 000 leagues under the sea
Based on Jules Verne’s 1870 novel. Currently in development with Disney with David Fincher (The social network) to direct in 3D. The Federal Government has offered an incentive for it to be filmed in Aust. - but despite rumours, there will be no Brad Pitt in a wetsuit…
http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/movies/pitt-sunk-20000-leagues-under-the-sea-rumours-hosed-down-20130216-2ejqg.html
Relax with a good film - based on a good book!
23 Feb 2013
Cloud atlas and good TV shows coming up
This 2004 Booker nominated novel is a great read that mixes spec fiction, dystopian fiction and realistic fiction in an intriguing pyramid-style narrative that spans generations - from the 19th to 24th centuries.
Theme: everything is connected. Cloud atlas is 6 intertwined stories in 6 time periods and genres - an 1849 diary of a Pacific Ocean voyage; letters from a composer to his friend; a thriller about a murder at a nuclear power plant; a farce about a publisher in a nursing home; an interview with a rebellious clone in futuristic Korea; and the memoirs of an old man who lived in a tribal community in post-apocalyptic Hawaii, far in the future.
Book review: "A postmodern visionary who is also a master of styles of genres, David Mitchell combines flat-out adventure, a Nabokovian lore of puzzles, a keen eye for character, and a taste for mind-bending philosophical and scientific speculation in the tradition of Umberto Eco and Philip K. Dick. The result is brilliantly original fiction that reveals how disparate people connect, how their fates intertwine, and how their souls drift across time like clouds across the sky".
More reviews: http://www.amazon.com/Cloud-Atlas-Novel-David-Mitchell/dp/0375507256
“The novel is a series of nested dolls or Chinese boxes, a puzzle-book, and yet—not just dazzling, amusing, or clever but heartbreaking and passionate, too. I’ve never read anything quite like it, and I’m grateful to have lived, for a while, in all its many worlds.”—Michael Chabon.
Cloud atlas the movie opens 28 Feb. Directed by Tom Tykwer (Run, Lola, run) and Andy & Lana (previously Larry) Wachowski (The Matrix).
Movie review: "Cloud Atlas is profound in its reach, its visual and acoustic impact, its mesmerizing flow and its completely ground-breaking storytelling, and movie goers will see it and feel it in their guts. It is a movie that is a product of our age of internet-driven universal knowledge and vision, and the freedom we have to travel the world and jump between ages, genres, images and identities at our will. It reminds us that we are human and that we can still hear our heart beat, if we listen." - C. Lutz
More details, trailer & reviews: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1371111/
Positive review: http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20121024/REVIEWS/121029991
Negative review: http://articles.latimes.com/2012/oct/25/entertainment/la-et-mn-cloud-atlas-review-20121026
Check the multiple characters played by stars (often unrecognisable) - Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Hugo Weaving, Jim Broadbent: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1371111/fullcredits?ref_=tt_ov_dr#directors
Can't wait to see it! And I definitely want to read more of Mitchell's books (all nominated for awards).
Some good TV shows also coming up this year:
Batavia - 6 hour miniseries on Ch. 10, based on the book by Peter FitzSimons, about the 1629 wreck of a Dutch ship off the W.A. coast. "The book is a sea-faring adventure full of mutiny, love, lust, criminality, slavery and the birth of the world’s first corporation."- IMDB.
Game of thrones - series 3 starts 1 April (Pay TV). This series of fantasy books by George R.R. Martin went to the top of the best-seller lists after the TV series was aired. Readers say the first 2 TV series follow the books very closely. Many senior students watch the show - it is often rather graphic - schools would have to carefully consider viewing episodes with senior students.http://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/game-of-thrones/user-reviews/adult
Chris Lilley - new 6 part series to be released in 2013. Let's hope it's better than the disappointing Angry boys - his first 2 series were excellent! http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/chris-lilleys-new-series-begins-shooting-20130220-2eqin.html
The walking dead - series 3 starts 12 Feb (Pay TV). Graphically gruesome - not really suitable to show at school, but students are watching it. The series has been nominated for several awards. Yes there are hungry & violent zombies but people are trying to survive as best they can - with the usual social & moral questions. The humans have some success - zombies are slow & they suck at climbing & swimming. Based on the Eisner award-winning graphic novel series by Robert Kirkman and others (popular in senior high school). There is also a web series based on the novels & TV series and video games.
Paper giants: magazine wars - Stars Rachel Griffiths as Dulcie Boling (editor New Idea), Mandy McElhinney as Nene King (editor Women's Day) and Rob Carlton (Kerry Packer). Explores the rivalry of 2 powerful women in Australian publishing. Coming to ABC.
Power games: the Packer-Murdoch story - Set in 1960-75, the story of how the epic ambitions of Rupert Murdoch and Sir Frank Packer collided as they battled for control of Australia’s newspaper and television industries. Coming to Ch. 9.
The time of our lives - Follows 3 generations of a modern Aust. family. Stars Claudia Karvan, Shane Jacobson, William McInnes & Stephen Curry. Coming to ABC.
9 Feb 2013
Here are some words that dominated popular culture in Australia, the US and UK during the last year. Interesting for English, social science and popular culture classes!
Macquarie Word of the Year 2012 (Aust)
Announced 6 Feb…..and the winner is….phantom vibration syndrome – an obsessional conviction that your phone has vibrated for an incoming call, when in fact it hasn’t.
Honourable mentions: crowdfunding, technomite, marngrook, First World problem.
People’s Choice winner: First World problem – a problem that relates to the affluent lifestyle of the First World eg. settling for plunger coffee when the espresso machine is broken.
Some category winners:
Technology: technomite – a young child who is adept in the use of digital media.
Internet: crowdfunding – obtaining small donations from individuals contacted through social networks, to fund a project.
Health: diabesity – obesity accompanied by diabetes.
Environment: green tape – bureaucratic regulations and paperwork deriving from environmental legislation.
Colloquial: wine flu – a hangover.
Sport: marngrook – an early influence on AFL, played by pre-European Aboriginal people.
See all shortlisted words in categories: http://www.macquariedictionary.com.au/anonymous@9c9986628003/-/p/dict/WOTY12/index_winner.html
Global Language Monitor
Their 13th annual global survey of the English language. Number of words in the English language: 1,019,729.6 (est. 1/1/13)
Top word: apocalypse
Top phrase: Gangnam Style
Top 20 list includes: meme; MOOC; the Cloud; hen (Swedish attempt to create a gender-neutral pronoun to replace him or her); obesogenic; omnishambles; hashtag; drones; superfood; fracking AND adorkable – the rise of the nerds – adorable dorks!
http://www.languagemonitor.com/number-of-words/words-of-the-year-2012/
American Dialect Society Word of the Year 2012
Winner: hashtag – a word or phrase preceded by a hash symbol, used on Twitter to mark a topic or make a commentary.
Runner-up: marriage equality. Also popular: YOLO ( You Only Live Once); * -(po)calypse, -(ma)geddon (hyperbolic combining forms for various catastrophes); Gangnam Style; fiscal cliff (threat of spending cuts and tax increases looming over end-of-year budget negotiations).
http://www.americandialect.org/hashtag-2012
Merriam-Webster (US) Words of the Year 2012
Based on the volume of user lookups at Merriam-Webster.com. The presidential election influence can be seen.
Joint winners: socialism and capitalism. The rest of the top 10: touché; bigot; marriage; democracy; professionalism; globalization; malarkey; schadenfreude; meme.
http://www.merriam-webster.com/info/2012words.htm
Oxford Dictionaries UK Word of the Year 2012
Winner: omnishambles – Coined by the writers of the satirical television programme The Thick Of It, an omnishambles is a situation that has been comprehensively mismanaged, and is characterized by a string of blunders and miscalculations.
Others considered: Eurogeddon, green-on-blue, pleb, to medal, mummy porn, e-rotica (the phenomenon was fuelled by a surge of erotic book sales on e-readers); second screening (the activity of watching television whilst simultaneously using a smartphone, laptop, etc., often so as to be able to use a social media site to post about what was happening).
http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/press-releases/uk-word-of-the-year-2012/
Oxford Dictionaries USA Word of the Year 2012
Winner: to GIF (verb) – to create a GIF file of an image or video sequence, especially relating to an event.
(The GIF is a compressed file format for images that can be used to create simple, looping animations. It turned 25 this year).
See the winning word revealed as a GIF: http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2012/11/us-word-of-the-year-2012/
Other popular contenders: Eurogeddon; superstorm; YOLO; MOOC (Massive Open Online Course – a university course offered free of charge via the internet); homophobia; Higgs Boson.
In January the New York Public Library launched stereogranimator <http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/26/3-d-it-yourself-thanks-to-new-library-site/> allowing visitors to create GIFs of 40,000+ digitized stereographs from its collection and share them.
8 February 2013
Quality journalism
The Conversation online Australian news source is a valuable resource for many curriculum areas, with high quality articles in many fields – science, tech, politics, society, environment, health, business..…
The Conversation turns 2 on 24 March and is now the largest Aust. independent news and commentary website. It has a “commitment to high-quality, intelligent, and independent analysis, comment and research, penned by academics with real expertise”. Founding partners include several Aust. universities and CSIRO. It is viewed by 669,000 readers each month. Editors work with more than 4,600 registered academics and researchers from 280 institutions.
http://theconversation.edu.au/
Michelle Grattan joins The Conversation (and the Uni of Canberra): http://is.gd/an4I3o
Interesting article from The Conversation re the acidic island in the film Life of Pi. And what an amazing film it is – a wonderful adaptation of the book.
Life of Pi’s acidic island a warning for our warming world – Thomas Faunce: http://is.gd/eDvCxD
Interesting comments on quality journalism from Andrew Jaspan (co-founder of The Conversation). 2013 will be another transformative year for Australian media. http://is.gd/LRW4OF
The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age will go tabloid and merge, though with some regional differences. They will offer more mid-market fare – fast news, sport, showbiz, gossip.
The Guardian will launch a new Aust. digital edition – and this may help “fill the niche for high quality content vacated by Fairfax & News Limited.” http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-01-16/guardian-launching-australian-online-edition/4466636
The Conversation is “committed to publishing everything under Creative Commons licence, so it is free for anyone to read and republish, unlike the rest of the media who retain copyright.” Many websites every day republish material from The Conversation. A “Republish” button accompanies every article. Their Creative Commons licence: http://is.gd/5Wohtn